Bluestone House gets reprieve

Press, 26 August 1978, Page 13

Bluestone House gets reprieve

Bv

DOUG HODGE

Fears that the quaint, nineteenth century Timaru Bluestone House on the comer of Arthur Street and Grey Road would be demolished have been groundless. The Education Department does not intend to destroy the building, in which the South Canterbury regional committee of the Historic Places Trust has shown interest. The structure, notable for its excellent stonework, white plaster window surrounds, "friendly” porch, and generally English influence, may be used for community classes under the aegis of the Timaru College, but it will not be used as a classroom to relieve pressure on accommodation at the college. Although the Ministry of Works and Development has described the building as unsuitable for classroom use, it feels that it should be preserved because of its architecture. which is typical of the period, and its historic value. It has come to be regarded as a "little bit of

England” — a lasting reminder of the early settlers. The Historic Places Trust would be happy to take over the building jointly with the Timaru City Council as a museum, but this is all in the melting pot. Development of the building as a historic place would depend on when the secondary school transferred to the Pages Road site, easing accommodation pressure in Arthur Street. The Education Department’s regional superintendant (Mr R. U. Roy) says that eventually the department might hand over the structure to the Historic Places Trust and the City Council if they agreed to maintain it, but the department would retain ownership of the land. Mr Roy envisages that the house could be restored and furnished with period furniture to become a public show place.

The principal of Timaru College (Mr K. R. Miller) says that concern about the possible fate of the building had been based on a suggestion by the works committee to the College Board that there was a desperate need for more accommodation, and if the bluestone building was pulled down this would alleviate the college’s plight. The board has not agreed to this suggestion.

Mr Miller says it was never intended to use the building for a secondary school classroom, but the board had felt the house could be used for adult education seminars and meetings. The department has vetoed this suggestion. The Ministry of Works and Development has not directed that the building not be used, and the residency has been asked if it would change its policy to allow use of the building for community classes, says Mr Miller.