Thorndon Society Newsletter of the Thorndon Society Inc
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` Thorndon Society Newsletter of the Thorndon Society Inc. Working with the community for Thorndon's heritage since 1973 NEWSLETTER 176, ISSN 1179-9501 | online ISSN 2463-476X, March 2019 Contents THE THORNDON TRUST ................................................................................... 2 REMINISCENCES OF ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL, HILL STREET .......... 4 PARK STREET/TINAKORI ROAD APARTMENT HOUSE DEVELOPMENT ..................................................................................................... 6 CAVE AT THE SHEPHERD’S ARMS HOTEL ................................................ 7 YESTERDAY AND TODAY .................................................................................. 9 NUDE BATHING ................................................................................................... 10 THE THORNDON SOCIETY ............................................................................ 11 AGM NOTICE THURSDAY 28 MARCH 2019................................................ 12 Drawing – Allan Morse Architect -1974 THORNDON NEWS | NEWSLETTER 176, ISSN 1179-9501| online ISSN 2463-476X | Page 1 of 12 ` THE THORNDON TRUST Many in Thorndon will be aware of the role of the Thorndon Trust, but for those who are not, here is a brief résumé of the Trust’s history and recent activities. The formation of the Thorndon Trust stretches back to the early 1970s, when Thorndon was threatened not just by a highly destructive motorway, but by the construction of high-density housing and the expansion of the commercial heart of the city. The city’s earliest developed suburb, with some of its most important residential buildings and concentrated 19th century streetscapes, could easily have been lost. Founding trustees were Shirley Smith, Gillian MacGregor and Martin Hill. The Trust bought Granny Cooper’s Cottage, 30 Ascot Street in 1972, to prevent it and others, being demolished for a new residential development. They initiated the formation of the Thorndon Society, which became the active, campaigning community organisation, setting in train the protection of the Ascot Street / Glenbervie Tce area, and saw it rezoned for its special architectural and townscape qualities. It was known as the Residential E Zone, and it was a landmark first for conservation planning in New Zealand. Since Figure 1 Granny Cooper's Cottage that time, 1975, there has not been a single 19th century building demolished in this area of approximately 100 houses – roughly the triangle bounded by Bowen Street, Tinakori Road and Hill Street. Thorndon Society members helped the Trust restore 30 Ascot Street. The Trust still owns the cottage and the rental helps with the maintenance of both Trust properties. Later, the Trust bought 194 Sydney Street West, again to prevent demolition and development of the landlocked area behind where Rita Angus’s cottage stood. Rita herself had become very concerned about the destruction caused by the motorway and she painted and drew a number of works around this theme. In 1984 the Trust was able to purchase and restore the Rita Angus Cottage 194A and sell 194. After some years, a Conservation Plan was undertaken and then the cottage was listed as Category 1 by Heritage NZ. THORNDON NEWS | NEWSLETTER 176, ISSN 1179-9501| online ISSN 2463-476X | Page 2 of 12 ` Owning the Cottage has led to an additional focus for the Trust, in commemorating Angus’s life through an artist-in-residence programme. Over 40 artists both local and international, have lived and worked in the cottage with support from QE II, Creative NZ, City Art Gallery, Massey University, Te Papa, Dowse, Enjoy Gallery, Weltec and recently Te Auaha. The artists include Tony Fomison, Jane Zusters, Joanna Paul, Séraphine Pick, Michael Tuffery, Ani O’Neil, Ronnie van Hout, Dane Mitchell, Wayne Youle, Ben Cauchi, Andre Hemer, Glen Hayward and Shannon Te Ao. Funds from rental of the cottage in between residencies, and grants from the Lottery Board and WCC, have allowed significant maintenance and upgrading work to be carried out. It remains a place that is very evocative of the cottage that Rita knew and was so important to her work. It is a little more comfortable (with gas under floor heating); it is safer (with sprinklers for its long-term security), and the outside toilet has been reinstated in the garden; the bathroom has just been refurbished. It has a garden that is very much more under control than the one Rita knew of ferns, bamboo, hydrangeas and a few vegetables. In the last two years, a hard-working team of six women volunteers, Figure 2 Rita Angus Cottage gardening for a morning a week, have gently created a magnificent garden respecting the bones that were there. A new magnolia has been planted beside Rita’s famed, aging one. Work on the cottage and the grounds has been documented and meticulously overseen by architect Philip Porritt (who in the ‘70s lived in Barton Terrace), and who has recently retired after serving for 14 years as a trustee. His care and attention to detail is legendary, and he has brought both of the Trust’s cottages up to a very high standard. The Trust, and indeed the wider community, are deeply indebted to Philip for his dedication to two important heritage buildings in Thorndon. Two new trustees have recently been appointed: Lucy Alcock and Sebastian Clarke, while the Trust finances continue to be ably managed by Don Gray. Current projects include negotiations on expanding the artist-in-residence THORNDON NEWS | NEWSLETTER 176, ISSN 1179-9501| online ISSN 2463-476X | Page 3 of 12 ` programme; assisting the neighbour at 196 Sydney Street West with the reconstruction of the boundary wall alongside the path up to the cottage (Phillip’s last task), and the commissioning of a history to assist in the listing of Granny Cooper’s Cottage by Heritage New Zealand. While there will always be a focus on the running of the Rita Angus Cottage, and extending artist-in-residence programmes, the Trust remains committed to wider heritage issues in Thorndon and stands ready to assist the Thorndon Society in its social and conservation roles. Margaret Cochran, Thorndon Trust Convenor REMINISCENCES OF ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL, HILL STREET The close approach of a seventy-fifth birthday, and the passing of an illness which has caused much contemplative thought, has made me wonder if many are left who have any sort of close recollection of the noble building which was such a feature of all views of early Wellington, particularly of Thorndon. During the 1870’s my mother, and at least one other Thorndon girl went down to the West Coast, which at that time was reputed to have a population of many thousands, to do duty as teachers. My father had come from Melbourne with his certificate of registration from the University of Melbourne, dated 12th December 1877, and went into business as a Pharmaceutical Chemist at Hokitika. My sister was born on 3rd January, 1882 and I was born in June, 1883. Unfortunately, not long after my father died. Eighteen months or so later the young family came to Wellington in the “Maori”, a smart little ship with a cutaway bow, and probably the first of the line of the Union Co’s ships of this name. My first connection with St. Mary’s Cathedral comes by way of a manuscript written and signed by the Administrator, Father J McNamara, showing the birth dates of my sister and I, and my sister’s baptism in the Cathedral on 8th January 1882. My grandmother, one of the sturdy stalwarts of her day, had her home in Molesworth Street, directly opposite the gates to Parliament House, whence as we grew saw much of the building life of the growing city. Was it to be wondered at that time as we grew we became altar boys at the Cathedral, and, living so close, so freely available in the early mornings, that I became for quite a while the Archbishop’s altar boy, serving his mass morning after morning in the private chapel in the Archbishop’s House. Probably I had the honour of kissing His Grace’s ring more often than any other boy, but I cannot remember having heard THORNDON NEWS | NEWSLETTER 176, ISSN 1179-9501| online ISSN 2463-476X | Page 4 of 12 ` him play his beloved Stradivarius more than on two occasions. The centre of activities was of course, the Cathedral, which stood in its glory on the brow of Hill Street. The doors were at the Tinakori end and, facing Guilford Terrace, and the lofty tower overlooked Molesworth Street and the harbour. James Doyle was the Verger. He rang the bell and kept things in order including the dozen or so boys, the older ones of whom were allowed to do a spot of bellringing now and then. We wandered up the tower, and sometimes out through the trap door on to the very top. On the top flight of steps there were louvres set in the walls in which the pigeons nested, and we would watch them with great interest. Some years later, when I had grown up a bit and was working, I happened to be on Wellington Figure 3 After the Fire Photo Archives of the Diocese of Auckland Terrace in the vicinity of Mee’s Steps and my eyes wandered in the direction of the Cathedral. I was amazed and shocked to see smoke issuing from well up in the tower. That was the beginning of the disastrous fire which swept away in one morning such a lovely piece of architecture. I have no dates, but I should say that was over 60 years ago, and not very long afterwards the Basilica took its place, but with its doors and noble columns overlooking the harbour end. E V McKeever, Napier 1958 Notes: E V McKeever’s grandmother was Emma Brogan. St. Mary’s Cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1899 and was replaced by the Basilica of Sacred Heart. The Archbishop he refers to is most likely Archbishop Redwood. Mee’s Steps is now known as Mason’s Lane.