Historic homes

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 20

Historic homes

Sir, — I would like to ask the City Council the procedure used to list a property for preservation, and also to bring to its attention the omission from its list of the original Linwood homestead, reportedly built in 1857, which would make it one of the oldest houses left in Christchurch. The exterior still appears close to the original design. Its historical connections, built by the Brittans (he arrived in 1852 and later became Provincial Secretary) and lived in by the Rollestons (Superintendent, Provincial Government) should also have warranted it a mention in the council list. — Yours, etc., B. J. WARD. September 21, 1982. [Mr J. H. Gray, General Manager and Town Clerk, replies: “Appendix J of the Reviewed City Plan contains a list of historic buildings and objects selected initially in 1976 by a committee of council officers, Historic Places Trust Canterbury regional committee, New Zealand Institute of Architects Canterbury branch, and Christchurch Civic Trust. This committee met regularly over a number of months to select historic buildings which were representative of the architectural and social history of the city. The selection of buildings was a process of sharing knowledge and consensus agreement as to the status of buildings. It is important to note that at no time was the list considered complete or a closed list. For the 1979 review the previous work of this sub-committee was accepted in its entirety. The opportunity was taken by a number of people through the town planning objection and hearings procedure to seek the inclusion of additional items. The council has added four buildings or objects in this most recent exercise. The council is aware that there are still many buildings which are worthy of recognition by the City Plan. It is possible for these to be formally added to the Appendix by way of a scheme change or variation. However, it should be noted that: (a) The historic buildings controls in the City Plan are presently subject to appeal to the Planning Tribunal (yet to be heard) and the council is unsure now of the possible future, status of these planning measures, (b) The New Zealand Historic Places Trust has clas-

sified a large number of buildings for different time periods. These classifications are nationally based and the buildings are rated A, B, C, D in terms of their worthiness for protection. The benefit of the trust’s classifications is that any protection is pursuant to the 1981 Historic Places Act. The trust may have rated Linwood House, and other buildings, but this should be confirmed with the trust.”]