ARC Applauds Rescue Of Historic Hospital Building

15 January 2010

Building 5 at Greenlane Hospital will not be demolished.

After a two year battle to preserve the building, the Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) has accepted Building 5’s heritage status and has withdrawn the demolition consent and all remaining appeals against its status.

Support for the building came from the Auckland Regional Council’s (ARC) Chair of Parks and Heritage Councillor Sandra Coney and Chairman Mike Lee, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and a groundswell of individuals keen to see this early example of Auckland’s healthcare preserved.

Councillor Sandra Coney backed the campaign from the start.

“Building 5 is part of a virtually unchanged cluster of hospital buildings which show the way Aucklanders organised to care in a humane way for their ill and infirm citizens from an early date. Relatives of many Aucklanders would have lived out their last years in Building 5. This is very rare in New Zealand and Building 5, the old male infirmary, is a handsome building. Adaption and reuse of this building will be no more costly than a rebuild,” says Cr Coney.

“Auckland has lost so much heritage, yet we know residents value their historic landmarks and legacy from the past.

“Helen Geary, a motivated member of the public, deserves full credit for this. She lodged the initial appeal against demolition and brought it to everyone’s attention. Weighty supporters got involved and this outcome is great news for all concerned.”

The building, which stands on the grounds of the Greenlane Clinical Centre, now shares heritage status with the adjacent Costley Block which the ADHB is restoring.

“It’s great to know that this building is safe from demolition. I am sure ADHB can find an appropriate use for this building; to celebrate it, not demolish it,” says Cr Coney.

ENDS

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