The doors of the historic Soldiers’ Block at Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) have officially reopened.

More than 600 people attended the celebration on Friday afternoon marking the completion of the restoration and earthquake strengthening works of this Category One Historic building.

Attendees saw upgrades to the community hall, restoration of the two octagons, creation of a wharenui space for Ngāti Kuri and a space for the community gym.

The heritage site in Hanmer Springs that has been closed for two decades was built in 1916 as a sanctuary for returned soldiers suffering from war-related trauma.

It is the last building of its kind which remains on location and intact, making this restoration vital for preserving its architectural and historical significance.

Hurunui District Council’s Chief Strategy and Community Officer, Judith Batchelor, says the restoration has been a decade in the making.

“This place means something different to everyone—loss, healing, history, home. It’s taken many people’s persistence and is more than a decade in the making, but today proves that when a community believes in something, the legacy endures.”

Amongst the 600 attendees was 103-year-old John Rutherford who served in WWII and is the grandson of Duncan Rutherford, who the Rutherford Block in QMH was named after. Duncan Rutherford also funded the building of the veranda surrounding the Soldiers’ Block.

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