7/29/2019 Avondale-Waterview Historical Society Newsletter 62

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 Avondale  Avondale  Avondale  Avondale- -- -Waterview Waterview Waterview Waterview Historical Society Incorporated  Historical Society Incorporated  Historical Society Incorporated  Historical Society Incorporated  

 Newsletter  Newsletter  No. 62March-April 2013

Prepared by Lisa Truttman, President and Editor 

February meeting

WLB Heritage Group meetings

NZ Federation of Historical Societies-

Conference

Dunedin, April 5-7

Bruce Harvey and his team provided a packed-out

crowd of over 50 at St Ninians on 2 February with a

wonderful set of presentations on the wreck of HMS

Orpheus. It coincided with our combined meeting with

Mt Roskill (Puketapapa) Historical Society, and turned

into something of a sub-regional gathering of societies,

with members there from AWHS, Mt Roskill,Onehunga, West Auckland, Pt Chevalier and Mt

Albert, at least. Definitely one of our biggest turnouts

ever.

Our April meeting has been shifted in terms of both

day and location, to St David’s-in-the-Field’s church

hall at Hillsborough (see below) where we will be

hosted by the Mt Roskill Society, and hear their Presi-

dent Garth Houltham’s presentation on Cyrus Haley

and the 19th century attempted fatal shooting at the

Pah homestead.

Our normal meetings back at St Ninians will resume in

June, first Saturday (Queen’s Birthday weekend, as

The Whau Local Board have initiated meetings

between staff, Board heritage portfolio holders, and

representatives of the three historical societies in the

area — AWHS, Blockhouse Bay HS and West

Auckland HS. The 22 January meeting was attended by

reps from AWHS and Blockhouse Bay Societies. A

member of Auckland Council’s heritage team

explained the set-up of the heritage team, into five

departments: Heritage Information, and policy and im-

plementation departments for Built & Cultural Heritage

and Natural Heritage. All in all, a great opportunity to

discuss matters relating to heritage and what our

societies are doing with the Local Board and Auckland

Council.

Next meeting of the

Avondale-Waterview Historical Society:

CHANGE OF VENUE AND DATECombined with Mt Roskill (Puketapapa) Historical Society

At St David’s-in-the-Fields Church Hall

202 Hillsborough Roads, Hillsborough

SUNDAY, 14 April 2013, 2.00 pm

This will be hosted by the Otago Settlers Association.

Friday 5 April will be the usual conference-goer social

get-together. Saturday morning will be taken up by a

choice of either a walking or bus tour around some of 

Dunedin’s heritage sights, with main conference

activities, including AGM and guest speakers, in the

afternoon. Saturday night, a dinner is on offer at the

Dunedin Club.

Sunday is a range of options of more heritage sightsee-

ing for conference attendees.

I’ll be attending this year as both the Avondale-

Waterview Historical Society delegate, and as a

member of the current NZ Federation of Historical

Societies executive committee. My deep and personal

thanks to the AWHS for voting on 2 February to fund

my trip down to Dunedin. I remain profoundly moved

and grateful for your support.

7/29/2019 Avondale-Waterview Historical Society Newsletter 62

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Pleading for the future of the former

Mt Roskill Borough Council Municipal Building

From my submission, made in conjunction with the Mt Roskill (Puketapapa) Historical Society to the Puketapapa

 Local Board, 2012 — Editor.

As early as 1885, the Mt Albert/Mt Eden Road corner site was set aside from the government-controlled recrea-

tion reserve at Three Kings to be a municipal pound and site for offices. This was formally gazetted as such in

1888. The site served as the district’s pound, but the municipal offices did not come to pass there until when the

building we refer to tonight was opened in 1957. 

Nevertheless, the site served as a district pound through to the 1930s. Close by the Mt Roskill Hall was built in

the early 1920s, serving as a venue for ratepayers meetings during the Road Board period. 

The Mt Roskill Municipal Building was planned by the Mt Roskill Borough Council in response to the increasing

demands for space required for the Council’s staff in an area experiencing rapid post war development. It wasdesigned by architect Stephen Wright, who also designed the War Memorial Hall and monument in May Road. 

Even after the 1989 amalgamation of the borough with Auckland City Council, the building continued to serve

the purposes of territorial authority, latterly as Council and Metrowater offices. 

As a building associated closely with the development of the Mt Roskill borough, on a site which has served local

authority and community purposes for over 125 years – the former Mt Roskill Municipal Building should be se-

riously considered for inclusion on the heritage schedules maintained by Auckland Council.

—

At present, the building could be under threat. Closed in January 2012 due to the discovery of black mould in

(mainly) the later additions, it has remained empty while Auckland Council decides its fate. That fate may bedemolition. The Mt Roskill Historical Society would like to see the original 1957 part retained, renovated, and

returned to use as local board offices, keeping the corner site’s connections with the history of the development

of the greater Mt Roskill area intact. If you would like to help, contact Garth Houltham (president) on email

garph@ihug.co.nz or ph (09) 624-2331.

 Left: detail of plan of the new

building, S Wright architect,

1957.

 Auckland Council Archives,

 AKC 031/R287 

 Right: the former Mt 

 Roskill Borough Municipal

 Building, 2012. Photo, Lisa

Truttman