An Historic Opportunity for New Lynn

The New Lynn Protection Society is eager to see an historic corner brick bungalow on Astley Ave, New Lynn retained and incorporated into the development planned to expand BUPA’s aged care facility Glenburn. The company has already purchased the house at #43 and accompanying properties on Islington Ave which border their site.

New Lynn Protection Society spokesperson Penny Laybourn says her society “believes that BUPA/Glenburn has a great opportunity to be a good corporate citizen by incorporating the old and the new and using the bungalow as the gateway to their complex. Many of the people they care for are those in our community who have lived in the neighbourhood all their lives and have a very real connection to their heritage and that of the brick and ceramic past for which New Lynn is renowned”.

The site and others in the area have a pre-1944 demolition control overlay identified in the new Auckland Council’s Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan, which means that resource consent is required to demolish these buildings.

New Lynn has a proud history of brick and ceramic making. An ever reducing number of individual houses of cultural/architectural significance remain in New Lynn, sadly only a few of the old brick bungalows are protected on the Heritage Schedule. These houses, built from locally made bricks from the New Lynn Brickworks in the 1920’s, are closely linked with New Lynn’s brick industry and heritage and the families and individuals who were part of New Lynn’s brick and clay history.

New Lynn has been identified as a major transport node and as such is fast tracking its urban transformation. In the process, demolition of buildings that have significant cultural and heritage value is also being fast tracked as local government struggles with insufficient resources to ensure that properties of significant heritage value are appropriately scheduled and saved.

The New Lynn Protection Society believes that the brick bungalow presents a fantastic opportunity for the company to work cooperatively with Auckland Council and the community to enhance their development and retain a building of significance for the local area.

A meeting between The New Lynn Protection Society, Glenburn/BUPA and Auckland Council is planned in the near future. Anyone wishing to support retention of the brick bungalow at 43 Astley Ave is welcome to join the Society by contacting Penny email newlynnprotectionsociety@gmail.com or by visiting their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/newlynnprotectionsociety or sign the online petition from the Facebook page.

ENDS

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