Supporting local heritage

More North Shore City residents have been helped to restore their heritage properties.

The North Shore Heritage Trust, which was set up by the North Shore City Council late last year, provides one-off grants to help stabilise, repair or restore heritage homes, or prepare conservation plans and protect sites.

Chairperson Paddy Stafford-Bush says the Trust's aim is to protect and support North Shore City's heritage while raising awareness and appreciation of it within the community.

"We have a wealth of interesting heritage and we're providing one-off grants to local people for a variety of worthy projects," she says.

The latest grants go to Owen and Emma Stobart of Palmerston Rd, Birkenhead for restoration of the façade of their home; Devonport Museum to draw up plans for additions to the building; and Sally McLeay and Harry Craven of Hinemoa St, Birkenhead to help them rebuild their two-storey shopfront verandah.

Tony Holman, chairperson of the council's strategy and finance committee and one of the trustees, says the Hinemoa St grant will help revitalise the street and local area.

"Hinemoa is an important heritage street but some buildings are becoming a bit tatty. We're already contributing to restoring the old Post Office and hope that other people will be encouraged by this work," he says.

Councillor Holman, a strong advocate for heritage preservation, says it provides the city with an insight into its past and shows us how it has evolved.

"It's important that we preserve these valued features for our community to enjoy and ensure that our city's story can be passed on to future generations."

Another project to benefit from the Heritage Trust is the Wakatere Memorial Starting Tower on Narrowneck Beach, a wooden structure used until the 1980s as the place to start local boat races. The tower is on public land which is leased by the Wakatere Boating Club.

Mrs Stafford-Bush says the starting tower is a unique North Shore heritage icon but is in a state of disrepair.

"We're looking at sponsorship opportunities to raise money to restore this important piece of history for the local community to enjoy. One idea is to use it as the starting point for a mid-winter swim," she says.

Previous grants were given to Jeannette and Graeme Dickey of Williamson Ave, Takapuna and John and Margaret Williamson of Colonial Rd, Birkenhead for work to waterproof the exterior of their heritage properties; Glen Ricketts of Devonport for the repair and restoration of the turret on his Clarence St home and Greg and Nicola Hill to restore the façade of the former Post Office in Hinemoa St, Birkenhead.

Applications for the next funding round close on October 31. For more information, an application form and details of the assessment criteria, people are invited to visit www.northshorecity.govt.nz or contact North Shore City on 486 8600.

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