Sad Outcome for Dudley Cottage
New Zealand Historic Places Trust Information Release
16 January 2008
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust has expressed its
sadness at the loss by fire of Dudley
Cottage and that efforts to restore the building and find a more secure
site had been to no avail.
The NZHPT says it had been involved in various discussions
with community groups and Council over the past five years to find a good
conservation outcome, however, the longer the building sat at the Hutt
Park Raceway with these matters unresolved the greater the difficulty
in finding a satisfactory solution.
Central Region Area Coordinator for the Trust, David Watt said the Council
had resolved last year that as the date for re development of Hutt Park
was imminent, to seek tenders to relocate the building. In the absence
of suitable tenders, the Council resolution was that the building would
be demolished. The Trust had reluctantly accepted that process, albeit
relocation is not a preferred conservation option.
"Despite years of discussion trying to develop a future for the
cottage, we understand that the community trust which took on the preservation
task was endeavouring to stave off demolition, due in February, and still
working at finding a solution right up to mid January".
It is sad that this historic building has been lost for the future use
of the community of Lower Hutt." said Mr Watt.
For more information:
David Watt
Area Coordinator Central Region
Ph: 04 802 0004 or 027 246 6339
Email: dwatt@historic.org.nz
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