Fire damages old courthouse

Press, 13 September 1988, Page 15

Fire damages old courthouse

PA Auckland Fire has damaged the former Auckland District Courthouse a week after calls to protect the 77-year-old building. The blaze, which gutted the judge’s chambers on Sunday, is believed to have been deliberately lit by intruders who entered through an unlocked window.

Fifty firemen and 12 appliances took 20 minutes to control the fire, which damaged two rooms and a stair-well. Last week the Historic Places Trust was criticised for failing to place a protective classification on the Edwardian-style courthouse which has been empty since June. An Auckland architect, Mr Jeremy Treadwell, said he was alarmed that the lack of protection could lead to the valuable building being lost. His concern prompted him to prepare a 20-page report on the building to assist the trust’s classifica-

tion section to take action. The trust has recognised that the court is one of several Auckland buildings requiring research into possible classification.

However, lack of resources has limited progress.

The trust said even if the building was found to warrant an A or B classification, there would still be a three-month delay. Part of the procedure was allowing time for tenants and the building’s owners to make submissions to the trust. Historic Places Trust spokeswoman, Ms Di Stewart, said the fire in the court was unfortunate and protecting the building was being treated with urgency, but the decision on classification must be made by the trust board. The court was designed by Mr Claud Paton, who also designed Parliament buildings in Wellington and Auckland’s central post office.