? Lighting up the night with Carol services
The cost of preserving our local history
There are around 23 historic buildings that need earthquake proofing in Petone, but the process for landowners can be fraught. Petone Historic Society spokesperson Roy Hewson has seen the loss of many landmark buildings, including the Central Hotel that would have cost $100,000 to revamp. ?We had a quote that it could have been done for $50,000, but they bowled it down, the Fireman?s Arms is there now, but nothing much happens on that whole site. ?We were annoyed about it, we never found out until the bulldozers went in,? Mr Hewson says. He says the Hutt City Council?s historic buildings process has improved, but it is still difficult for owners to upgrade buildings and the costs can be financially crippling. The HCC provides some funding for costing the project, but Mr Hewson says some of the requirements are overkill. ?Most buildings in Petone have been done up, it?s quite expensive to do. ?They have to stabilise two-story buildings like they were high-rises. ?I?m in two minds about it, the owners should pay for [the work] but if the buildings are of value to the community then there are grounds the council helps out with the costs.? Onslow Historic Society president Murray Pillar says the railway line laid over 120 years ago is the area?s most historically significant structure. Between Ngaio and Johnsonville the train line and adjacent infrastructure form some of the earliest markers of European settlement. Besides historic precincts already recognised near the tracks, further funding has been approved by the WCC to revamp areas of significance. ?The Khandallah Town Hall will have $900,000 spent on it, making it more usable. ?If all goes to plan the reinstatement of the original exterior will also occur,? says Mr Pillar. The Town Hall is approaching its centenary and is one of the oldest structures in the area. The Historic Places Trust has registered various properties throughout North Wellington, with the Halfway House in Glenside being the latest under consideration. Mr Pillar says the Telephone and Exchange Building the Historic Society operates out of is another of the area?s oldest. ?It would be interesting to see the WCC make a list of the houses they own for domestic or commercial use, and find out the age of them. ?Some of the structures they use could be added to the heritage list,? says Mr Pillar. One government structure that had to be fought for was the Porirua Hospital Museum. Friends of Porirua Hospital Museum secretary Susan Druitt say $200,000 was raised to reinstate the 1910 building?s leaking roof. ?Five years ago much of the old hospital was destroyed when OSH condemned the leaking buildings, and we acted to save part of the area?s history. ?It?s a big part of Porirua history, before the Todd Motorcar Factory was built [the Hospital] was the largest employer in the area,? says Mrs Druitt. Critical maintenance of historic buildings on national and local government sites is often difficult to obtain because the money goes to funding equipment or staff. ?It?s tricky because the money is for treating patients, not for restoring old buildings,? she says. The roof is now ?watertight? and the group?s next task is attracting visitors to the old ?T-Ward?. At the moment university students are its most frequent visitors. What are your views? How valuable is the history of Petone to the area? Is enough done to preserve and promote the area?s history? Phone The Petone Herald on 237 3208 or email
