It’s the end of January and occupants of the office buildings surrounding the earthquake-damaged 61 Molesworth St are moving back in. Red Cross employees are back at work in their pre-quake space and the Ministry of Justice has announced Wellington High Court will reopen at 2 Molesworth St. on 1 Feb.

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As the demolition nears its completion, a hidden gem appears from under the rubble. Beyond the machinery the artwork of sculptor Jim Allen can be seen, largely unharmed. This piece was “a prominent feature in the entrance foyer of the building since 1965.”

Takedown and clean-up continues in this part of the city when, in other parts of the city, demolitions are still in the early stages. The large crane that was used to pull apart 61 Molesworth has been moved to Tory St where it is being used to “deconstruct” the Reading Cinema carpark building. Work on the carpark began on 4 January with the expectation that it will take about 3 months to complete. In Lower Hutt, demolition work on the damaged portion of the Queensgate Shopping Centre began on 5 December and is expected to be completed by the end of February.

Meanwhile, Wellington City Council has announced a $3 million fund from the government “to assist Wellington building owners to secure unreinforced masonry on their buildings.” This work is to be completed within 12 months, says Building and Construction Minister Dr Nick Smith, to reduce risk as quickly as possible.

Links to past photos:

29 November

1 December

5 December

9 December

12 December

15 December

19 December

22 December

28 December

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