Rejuvenation for historic building at Okarito

Press, 7 October 1988, Page 9

Rejuvenation for historic building at Okarito

By

NEVILLE PEAT:

story and photograph

The Y.H.A. hostel at Okarito — one of only two historic buildings left in the South Westland settlement — will get a new lease of life. The Okarito Community Council, Youth Hostel Association (Y.H.A.), and Department of Conservation are putting together a joint project to strengthen and refurbish the old hostel, which can accommodate up to 14 travellers. A new amenities block in keeping with the style of the main building is also planned. The work is expected to be completed early next year. Built about the turn of the century, the quaint old hostel served as a school until 1946. It was taken over by the Youth Hostal Association in 1960. An Okarito resident, Bill Minehan, the hostel warden, says the decision to upgrade the building will help preserve something of the old-world charm of the settlement as well as provide much-needed accommodation at holiday time. Sixteen people live at Okarito, but in the summer holidays the population can swell to about 200. Okarito’s other historic building is the Donovan general store, which dates back to the 1860 s, the gold-rush heyday of Okarito. It is now in the hands of the Historic Places Trust, part of the Department of Conservation. Restoration of the store is under consideration. At present the Okarito Community Council uses a building on the old wharf for a display of old photographs. It is a replica of the first wharf building. A