Camelspace Helps Move Historic Rob Roy Hotel

Camelspace Helps Move Historic Rob Roy Hotel

Leading scaffolding company, Camelspace, was enlisted by the NZ Transport Agency to help relocate the famous Freemans Bay Rob Roy Hotel building. Camelspace has provided extensive scaffolding to ensure the 135 year old structure remains stable while strengthening and other preparatory work is carried out.

The Rob Roy Hotel (also known as the Birdcage) was moved 40 metres up Franklin Road at the end of August. The entire $2.5 million move took over one weekend day.

‘This is a very special project and we’re very happy to be involved. It’s fantastic that such a well loved and historically significant building has been saved and will be reinvigorated in the process,’ says Phil McConchie, Commercial Director and co-founder of Camelspace. ‘Moving an entire building, especially one as old and delicate as the Rob Roy is no mean feat and not something that many people will ever have the opportunity to work on. We’re proud to have been a part of it.’

‘Camelspace was approached to tender for the project due to our experience in all sizes of commercial project and in particular our infrastructure experience and proven track record,’ adds Phil.

The Rob Roy Hotel is a two-storey unreinforced masonry building built in 1885-86. As it lies in the path of the proposed Victoria Park Tunnel, it has to be moved twice. Firstly up Franklin Road while the tunnel is being built and then back to its original site which will then be on top of the tunnel’s roof adjacent to the southern portal. The brick building is being reinforced and placed on runway beams just below ground level before hydraulic arms push it gently and slowly along the beams up the road.

ENDS

© Scoop Media