Hogben House move

Press, 8 March 1984, Page 8

Hogben House move

The interior of Hogben House, once occupied by Ernest Rutherford, the man who split the atom, looks as if it has been hit by a small bomb.

However, the chaos is under careful control. The chimneys are being dismantled so that the former teacher-training centre can be carved up and moved from its Bealey Avenue address.

Mr Michael Sellars, partowner of the adjacent Carlton Mill Lodge, is helping to build 24 motel units at the rear of the section. The owners want the site on which the old house stands cleared to put up a reception block at the front of the development and for car-parking and landscapThey have given Mr Richard Proctor first option to buy Hogben House provided he has it shifted by Monday.

He wants to move it to a hillside section near Governor’s Bay but is having difficulty raising the $20,000 needed for the job.

Fears were that if this proved impossible, the house would be demolished. But this is most unlikely because Mr Proctor is determined to get the money and because, if he cannot, Mr Sellars has received other offers. Mr Proctor said last week that his problems began when the contracting company he had arranged to move the property was wound up. However, “acting on the assumption that the loan will eventuate” he is now employing former members of the firm’s staff to dismantle it. “As far as I am concerned, I am going to shift it,” he said, "and if the money does not turn up I

will print some.” He was discussing possible finance, of which there were hopeful indications, but he could not say anything with certainty at this stage.

He saw no reason to delay work because the chimneys would have to be dismantled anyway. Mr Sellars said that three other persons had shown interest in buying and moving Hogben House and that it would almost certainly be preserved. “The only thing that worries us is that it is holding up our new development, he said. “If someone will take it off the site, that will suit us fine.”

The March 12 deadline was not inflexible and if Mr Proctor had started to make an attempt to shift it, he and the other owners would be prepared “to go along.’’