The Auckland Heritage Festival will take place from 30 September to 15 October 2017. Remuera Heritage is hosting two events:

• Wheels, water and wings over Remuera: come and hear the stories about famous residents of Remuera - Jean Batten, the Walsh brothers, Mohi, and the air aces of WW1, plus L J Keys’ buses, trams and trains.Thursday 5th October - 6.30pm  at the Remuera Library
• Mapping the history and growth of the Remuera Shopping Centre - a presentation on the history of the Remuera shops, many of which go back 100 years, with photos past and present.  Friday 13th Oct - 6.30pm at the Remuera Library

The Anglican Parish of Ellerslie has a beautiful heritage church, Christ Church, in Ladies Mile, which is now 134 years old.  Well preserved but in need of costly repairs, the church houses a set of stained and painted glass windows which are considered to be a national treasure and of international importance.  Their value is not only in the workmanship, though this alone is outstanding, but because of the links with an early Auckland artist, Albin Martin, who is regarded as being the ‘Father of art in Auckland’ and who was a founder member of the church at Ellerslie.

 These windows came from England as a gift from Alfred Bell, glassmaker to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, who owed his illustrious career to Albin Martin, who had given him drawing and painting lessons as a boy in England and set him on his path.  In order to ensure that the church building and windows are properly preserved the parish vestry has employed heritage architects to oversee the work that needs to be done. 

 The refurbishment will cost a considerable amount.  In order to meet the expenses the church will be launching a public fundraising campaign, beginning with a Victorian afternoon tea before which a short history of the windows will be given.

 This will take place on Sunday 6 August at 2:30pm at Christ Church, 169 Ladies Mile, Ellerslie.

 You and your members are warmly invited to attend. There is no charge for the event. We simply want to share with all those interested in heritage the chance to view our beautiful historic windows and to give them the opportunity to assist in the project, where possible. We do hope that you and some of your members will be able to join us.  It would be helpful if possible to know the numbers attending, though there is no formal need to do so.

 RSVP to Pamela Stone People’s Warden            Phone: 579.4238  or pamela.stone@xtra.co.nz

Our next Remuera Heritage Event is a visit to Te Toi Uku, the Crown Lynn & Clayworks Museum in New Lynn on Wednesday 26th July. The start time is 11 am.  http://portageceramicstrust.org.nz/

The plan is to travel by train on the Western Line from the Newmarket Station to the New Lynn Station. The train we must catch leaves Newmarket at 10.29 arriving at the New Lynn Station at 10.51 am. There is a 6 minute walk to the museum. Alternatively there is car parking at the Lynn Mall Shopping Mall, which is an 8 minute walk to the museum.

Where: 8 Ambrico Place, New Lynn, Auckland 0640

When: 11am Wednesday 26^th July 2017

Cost: Finn the curator will talk to us and show us around - there is a $5 visitor fee.

 RSVP: It is a small area, so if you are planning to come, please let Annette Jackman know asap at va.j@xtra.co.nz or phone 523 3614. 

The RRA now has a Facebook page – get the latest news etc here:

https://www.facebook.com/remueraresidentsassociation/

On June 9^th 2017 members of St Mark’s Church and Remuera Heritage gathered at the St Mark’s Hall to recreate a Night at the Tudor Theatre. Everyone was dressed in their best finery in order to honour the theatre at 333 Remuera Road which was a cornerstone of Remuera social life from 1928 until its closure in 1972 and demolition in 1980.

The Reverend Anne Mills introduced the evening and Terry Sutcliffe as MC gave a talk on the history of the cinema and the Tudor Theatre.  Annette Ferneyhough shared insights about her movie star grandmother Bathie Stuart who was the female star in the 1925 Adventures of Algy, a silent movie about ‘a silly ass’ Englishman who inherits a sheep farm in New Zealand and meets & falls in love with the girl next door Kiwi McGill.  

After the movie screened, a prize for the best dressed person was won by Valerie Muir wearing a 100 year old dress which belonged to her grandmother.

A cheque for $500 for St Mark’s was presented to the Rev. Anne Mills from funds raised by Remuera Heritage on the night.

Images

1. Rev Anne Mills and Terry Sutcliffe

2. Sue Cooper and Terry Sutcliffe

3. Beverley Newton, Sue Cooper and Valerie Muir

4. Annette and Bryan Ferneyhough

5. Bathie Stuart .March 1939 on board the Mariposa while on holiday in NZ National Library of New Zealand Ref 1/2-C-22839

Dress up in the period of 1920s to the 1970s when the Remuera Tudor theatre provided entertainment for Remueraites. Get out your furs and hats, suits and costumes for an elegant night at the movies. 

From director Beaumont Smith about a “silly ass” Englishman who inherits a sheep station in New Zealand and meets and falls in love with a great New Zealand girl Kiwi McGill. 

When: Friday 9th June 2017 at 7pm 

Where: St Mark’s Church hall, 95 Remuera Road 

Refreshments provided from 7pm and during the intermission 

Prizes for best dressed male and female in period costume. 

Tickets: $20 for members; $25 for non-members; $12 for students & children.

RSVP for catering purposes to Annette Jackman at va.j@xtra.co.nz or phone 523-3614

Payment by online bank deposit is preferred - Account 06-0257-0198761-00 Remuera Heritage Inc. 

The Tudor theatre opened in June 1926, at 333 Remuera Rd, owned by Fuller Hayward Theatres Corporation and F.G. Mumford. The interior was mostly in a Tudor style with lots of dark wood and Tudor rose emblems, with the exterior illuminated by floodlights at night. It seated 1066 people and was the centre of social life in Remuera until it closed in 1972. It was demolished in 1980, to be replaced by the Tudor Mall.

Images:

Tudor Theatre Remuera MOTAT 13-2233 1930.   Tudor Theatre at night 1930s J G McGuire Walsh Memorial Library MOTAT 

Bruce McLaren was one of the icons of motor racing in the sport's 60s ‘golden age’ – he won four Grand Prix, and joined fellow Kiwi Chris Amon to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The McLaren team he founded became one of the most successful in Formula One motor racing. In this documentary, director Roger Donaldson returns to the tarmac where he has made a mark before — Smash Palace, his fictional story of a race car driver, and two films inspired by Invercargill's DIY racing legend Burt Munro. 

There are many interviews with Bruce’s family and racing colleagues, with much racing footage not seen since the 1960s. It’s a story of guts and determination by a Kiwi who was born and bred in Remuera at the Upland Road garage, owned by his father. 

A film well worth seeing, it runs for 1.5 hours in New Zealand cinemas from 1st June 2017. 

You can visit the Bruce McLaren Trust and museum at 590 Remuera Road.

Our Treasurer of 10 years is stepping down and we need to find a replacement - do you know how to be a treasurer and enjoy all things heritage? 

Contact us http://www.remueraheritage.org.nz/contact here.

We'd love to hear from you.

Remuera Heritage Committee

Chair’s Annual Report to 31 March 2017 

Welcome to members, members of the Orakei Local Board and friends of the society. 2017 is our 10th anniversary - Remuera Heritage was started after the demolition of Coolangatta at 464 Remuera Road in December 2006 - Jennifer Wiseman, Remuera community librarian, convened the first meeting on 25th May 2007 and Terry Sutcliffe was elected as Chair of Remuera Heritage.

The last 12 months have seen some fabulous events – We have had a focus on the 100 year commemorations of World War One, starting with the Anzac Day Remembrance Service at St Aidan’s Church war memorial. Herb Farrant of the N Z Military Historical Society spoke very movingly on the Battle of the Somme on the Western Front in France, which occurred 100 years ago from July-November 1916. It was on the Somme that the majority of New Zealanders were killed or wounded during the First World War. And it was here that New Zealand experienced its worst days in military history in terms of loss of life. The Battle of the Somme was New Zealand’s first major engagement on the Western Front. It took a huge toll on the 15,000 members of the New Zealand Division who were involved. Roughly one in seven of the division who fought on the Somme was killed, and about four in every 10 were wounded. Thirty plus men from Remuera were killed at the Battle of the Somme.  During the Auckland Heritage Festival we joined the Remuera Railway Station Preservation Trust to look at the interior of the station with Graeme Burgess, heritage architect. This interesting old building is of historical significance both to the history of Remuera and to New Zealand's rail heritage. Graeme Burgess and Lilli Knight spoke about their updated conservation plan for this station and their work on other heritage stations. 

At our Christmas party, Thomas Swinburn from Dilworth College spoke on his being a Young Ambassador for New Zealand on the Shared Histories project to commemorate the First World War. Thomas travelled to Arras and Quesnoy in France to participate in commemoration services for the Battle of the Somme. This year we went to Auckland Grammar School as it was the 100th anniversary of the opening of the main Spanish Mission-style building. And last month we went to the Bruce McLaren Trust museum at the Upland Road shops where we were hosted by Bruce McLaren’s sister Jan McLaren. The trust has kept the name alive in New Zealand – McLaren is a global car racing brand and Jan’s efforts has ensured his name and heritage is preserved and promoted from here in Remuera. For this coming year, we’re looking at a Night at the Tudor Theatre evening and showing some old Auckland movies, doing more on the history of the Remuera shops, the Auckland Heritage Festival with a theme of transport (Trains & Boats & Planes) – and a visit to the Crown Lynn Pottery museum at New Lynn. 

Auckland Unitary Plan 

The Auckland unitary Plan is more or less over and adopted as the blueprint for the future development of Auckland. In February this year, the Environment Court confirmed that the decision by Auckland Council at the last minute means to change the zoning of many streets that were single house zones in the unitary plan to multi-level dwellings was legal and will now stand. The change in zoning from Single House to Terrace Housing & Apartment Buildings affected 29,000 house owners who were given no right of reply to this. The Character Coalition said:- "We believe the Council reacted to the massive pressure it was under from the development lobby and denied 29,000 ratepayers any form of natural justice". The Character Coalition rejected claims that the rezoning was required to solve Auckland's housing crisis. "The land in many of these streets is so valuable that what we are now seeing is people buy old villas and demolish them and build bigger houses - but many of these new houses are not in character with the area and still do nothing to solve the housing crisis." We are working on identifying buildings that should be listed on the Historic Heritage Schedule and working with Auckland Council, the Orakei Local Board and Heritage New Zealand to accomplish this. And while I am on this topic, I would like to mention the sterling work and support we have received from Chair Desley Simpson and Troy Churton of the Orakei Local Board. There were some successes from the unitary plan process: 

The Remuera Railway Station was moved from Category B to A by Auckland Council on the Historic Heritage Schedule. Ditto for the Remuera Public Library and Mainston House/Manor at 4 Mainston Rd, which is Remuera’s oldest house built in 1853. Meanwhile old villas in Remuera continue to be removed or demolished, particularly in Clonbern Road. This coming year we are working on prioritizing 4 or 5 Remuera buildings to be added to the Historic heritage Schedule and on a project to identify and present in a graphical format the Remuera shops from the early 20th century to 2000. 

Communications 

The website has had more biographies of Remuera WW1 servicemen added, including that of Henry John Innes Walker Henry John Innes Walker, known as Jack Walker, of Victoria Avenue, Remuera was killed near Ypres on 25th April 1915 and his remains were found 101 years later in a Flanders field by an archaeological team preparing the way for a gas pipeline to be laid. His New Zealand descendants were interviewed on New Zealand, Belgium and U K television. http://www.remueraheritage.co.nz/people/ww1-henry-john-innes-walker Places added included the Mission Sisters House at 78 Upland Road and the Remuera Children’s Home which was in Portland Road from 1903 to 1913. http://www.remueraheritage.co.nz/places 

Photo: Sue Cooper, Chair & Sue Jackson, Remuera Library Manager

A monthly article appeared in the April 2017 issue of The Hobson on the Boucher brothers, Edgar (Teddy) and Arthur, who were in the Battle of the Somme. The Facebook page for Remuera Heritage has 115 followers and I post regular updates on heritage in Remuera and heritage in general. If you are on Facebook, please have a look. The e-newsletter which is now able to be delivered through the website system also reaches about 130 people and is a good way to promote Remuera Heritage. We have also provided the information for the heritage plaques being placed on Remuera’s oldest buildings in the shops. 

Remuera Railway Station 

Remuera Heritage continues to support The Remuera Railway Station Preservation Trust in its efforts with Auckland Transport to restore this unique island station for community use. David Pittman is currently getting things shipshape so that we can talk to Auckland Transport about funding for the restoration of the interior. 

Members 

I’d like to note the passing of 2 valued members – Thelma Down who with her husband Trevor were members from the beginning of Remuera Heritage, and also Richard Hanna in 2015. 

Management Committee.

Finally I would like to thank the wonderful committee: Annette Jackman as secretary, Margaret Harris as treasurer, Terry Sutcliffe, Bryan Haggitt, Brian Cooper, Brett Logan, David Pittman, Sue Johnston & Sue Jackson of Remuera Library, who provide us with this wonderful venue. Also our thanks to Viv Logan and Jenny Haggitt who provide delicious food and drink for our very hospitable and welcoming meetings. We need some new members on our committee – the society is at a very exciting stage in its development and we want to maintain our informative and social programme of events. I hope you will consider getting involved.  

Sue Cooper, Chair 5 May 2017

Remuera Heritage will hold its 2017 Annual General Meeting for members  - this is the 10th anniversary of the creation of Remuera Heritage Inc and will be a look back at the last 10 years and a look to the future.

WHEN: Friday 5 May 2017 at 6.30pm

WHERE: Remuera Library, 429 Remuera Rd, Remuera, Auckland 1050

Light refreshments will be served  - all members welcome.

The RRA now has a Facebook page – get the latest news etc here:

https://www.facebook.com/remueraresidentsassociation/

The eastern suburbs have seen significant removal of the single house zone to be replaced with the increased density of the Mixed House Suburban or Urban zones. This will lead to the development of individual properties being intensified to 3 stories, alongside single houses, destroying the collective value and amenity of the area which the community has strived to protect for future enjoyment. Urban amenity has to be collective – individual owners cannot do both high density and still expect to retain the existing character and amenity. 

The Independent Hearing Panel wrote “there was an insufficient basis to restrict the demolition of buildings based solely on their age. The argument that the unitary plan should, on an alleged precautionary basis, manage the demolition of buildings in areas that may have ‘unidentified significant historic heritage places or unidentified ‘special’ character areas’ was not supported by evidence of the likelihood that such values would be identified, or that the rate of demolition required such a restriction”. 

During the Unitary Plan process, Auckland Council said it was not resourced to carry out character area surveys to identify significant historic heritage places or unidentified ‘special’ character areas’ but would cooperate with community groups to do this. Remuera Heritage offered its help to the Heritage Dept. and through Councillor Cameron Brewer but we never heard back. Council staff had countered to the IHP that a plan change to add or extend character areas should be ready for notification in early 2017. RH gave evidence of the removal of character buildings from Remuera South, parts of Remuera north and Newmarket to no avail. 

As a result, The Panel has kept most of the currently notified special character overlay over Auckland, with one notable exception – it has been almost erased throughout all the eastern bays, including Remuera, Orakei, Kohimarama, Mission Bay and St Heliers. The pre-1944 demolition control overlay has been removed in its entirety and there is now no protection for any identified or non-identified character buildings in Auckland. The pre-1944 overlay was only an interim measure to allow for the identification of character housing, so now demolition is a permitted activity. 

AT RISK: The Remuera Library which is a listed and protected heritage building has now been zoned as being part of the town business centre and buildings either side have been upzoned to THAB (Terrace Houses and Apartment Buildings). This includes Cotter House, another listed heritage building (the 5th oldest house in Auckland) and the Hearing Association house at the top of St Vincent Avenue. This zoning change does not help the protection of these historic heritage places. It is impossible to understand why there is such a lack of consistency here in having Category A status for a brick public building such as a library and a historic heritage house when the underlying zoning anticipates high density. Houses such as Cotter House are now at significant risk of demolition and redevelopment. 

Gains in Remuera have been the inclusion of the Extent of Place around the Chapel of the Holy Child (formerly the stables) at Kings School to include The Towers, the 1855 Graham/ McCosh Clark house. The Remuera Railway Station has been upgraded from Category B to A: “Given its integrity, it’s now rarity, having an integral and original relationship with its signal box, and being the best of Auckland‘s historic suburban stations, it warrants elevation from a B to A in its heritage categorisation. Accordingly, the Panel supports the scheduling of the ‘Remuera Railway Station and Signal Box’ as Category A and adopts the extent of place and description proposed by Heritage New Zealand.” 

The volcanic viewshafts fared better than heritage. Most (though not all) proposed viewshafts have been retained; a few have been deleted, and there is a new category of locally significant viewshafts. One of the differences between regional and local is that if a proposed building would penetrate a regional viewshaft it is a non-complying activity, whereas for a local viewshaft it is a Restricted Discretionary activity. The Panel has provided the Council with maps which represent its recommendations. 

To view what these recommendations may mean for Remuera and your own property, click here and here.

The Anglican Parish of Ellerslie has a beautiful heritage church, Christ Church, in Ladies Mile, which is now 134 years old.  Well preserved but in need of costly repairs, the church houses a set of stained and painted glass windows which are considered to be a national treasure and of international importance.  Their value is not only in the workmanship, though this alone is outstanding, but because of the links with an early Auckland artist, Albin Martin, who is regarded as being the ‘Father of art in Auckland’ and who was a founder member of the church at Ellerslie.

 These windows came from England as a gift from Alfred Bell, glassmaker to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, who owed his illustrious career to Albin Martin, who had given him drawing and painting lessons as a boy in England and set him on his path.  In order to ensure that the church building and windows are properly preserved the parish vestry has employed heritage architects to oversee the work that needs to be done. 

 The refurbishment will cost a considerable amount.  In order to meet the expenses the church will be launching a public fundraising campaign, beginning with a Victorian afternoon tea before which a short history of the windows will be given.

 This will take place on Sunday 6 August at 2:30pm at Christ Church, 169 Ladies Mile, Ellerslie.

 You and your members are warmly invited to attend. There is no charge for the event. We simply want to share with all those interested in heritage the chance to view our beautiful historic windows and to give them the opportunity to assist in the project, where possible. We do hope that you and some of your members will be able to join us.  It would be helpful if possible to know the numbers attending, though there is no formal need to do so.

 RSVP to Pamela Stone People’s Warden            Phone: 579.4238  or pamela.stone@xtra.co.nz

Our next Remuera Heritage Event is a visit to Te Toi Uku, the Crown Lynn & Clayworks Museum in New Lynn on Wednesday 26th July. The start time is 11 am.  http://portageceramicstrust.org.nz/

The plan is to travel by train on the Western Line from the Newmarket Station to the New Lynn Station. The train we must catch leaves Newmarket at 10.29 arriving at the New Lynn Station at 10.51 am. There is a 6 minute walk to the museum. Alternatively there is car parking at the Lynn Mall Shopping Mall, which is an 8 minute walk to the museum.

Where: 8 Ambrico Place, New Lynn, Auckland 0640

When: 11am Wednesday 26^th July 2017

Cost: Finn the curator will talk to us and show us around - there is a $5 visitor fee.

 RSVP: It is a small area, so if you are planning to come, please let Annette Jackman know asap at va.j@xtra.co.nz or phone 523 3614.