Pedder Street is a major thoroughfare in the core of Hong Kong's Central District. It runs south–north from Queen's Road Central, continues through Des Voeux Road Central, and ends at its intersection with Connaught Road Central. History The street was named after Lieutenant William Pedder, first lieutenant of the Nemesis, Britain's first ocean-going iron warship, and the first harbour master of Hong Kong. Pedder Street was established at the centre of Hong Kong's commerce in the early colonial days. The premises of Hong Kong's two most powerful trading hongs at the time, Dent & Co. and Jardine, Matheson & Co., were located on The Praya Central, Victoria's original waterfront, on the opposite sides of Pedder Street. Dent & Co., one of the key founding members of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, had a sprawling complex which stretched along the Praya, and a west wing which abutted Pedder Street. Originally, Pedder Street ran from Pedder's Hill, where the Harbour Master's Office was established, south to north ending at Pedder's Wharf on the Praya. The street was extended north by 1904 when the Praya Reclamation Scheme finished transforming the old Praya into the modern day Des Voeux Road, along with a further stretch of land running north up to Connaught Road on which the General Post Office and Union Building were built. The new pier built at the end of Pedder Street following the reclamation was named "Blake Pier" after the city's 13th Governor. Historical buildings Pedder Wharf (1841–1890) Served as the official wharf of the colonial establishment from 1841 to 1890s. In February 1886, the first pile of the new Pedder's Wharf was driven in from the praya wall. "Three similar piles have been towed over from Tsim Sha Tsui and are ready to be put in place". The new wharf, located at the junction of Pedder Street and Des Voeux Road, extended out from the praya wall, and was wide. Six sets of steps lead down to the water. Pedder Wharf became landlocked after the big reclamation scheme of 1890–1904, and was replaced by Blake Pier. Dent & Co offices The palatial offices of Dent & Co. occupied the site where Gloucester Tower, The Landmark, stands today. They were originally constructed in 1850, and the site was redeveloped in 1864. Dent & Co. went into financial distress in 1866 and sold half of its land on Pedder Street