Author: Wildbaynz

Like travelling the smaller less known roads.

History-Old into New Building: Aero Club to Restaurant "Spruce Goose"

 The old Aero Club building was built in the 1930s and it housed the superintendent of the airport and the Union Airways Terminal Building.Also for many years it was used by The Wellington Aero Club.

 It was back in the beginning of 2011 that its fate was sealed when work started on the new Hanger for private jets. Room was required once it was completed to ensure that there was room for the Private Jets to move around without hindrance.

 Then in the March of 2012 the building was moved in two overnight  sections to its current location overlooking Lyall Bay main surfing area and next to the NZ Air-force building. This involved the wire fence being removed and the sections being moved by a specialist building moving company.

 The building was placed onto timber piles and remained untouched until Jan 2013. At this point security fencing was put up. The contractor chosen was MainZeal which then went into receivership. It was not long after when Naylor Love took over the work.

 For the 1st month or so very little appear to happen then around late May 2013 the building rework started to take shape.

 Through out the following months work progressed with earnest. Now it appears to be very close to opening and the building is now looking very different to when it was moved although the overall shape is the same, but with the additions to the external areas adding to its overall size.

 Currently i am not aware of its opening day nor the menu that will be on offer.Looking at what it is left to complete it will not be too long before the big day.

 As for opening hours my understanding is that it has applied for are Monday to Sunday from 7.00am to 2.00 am. It does not mean that that it will be open for these hours.It is a matter of wait and see.
 Opening times confirmed as from 7am to late 7 days a week.Brunch from 7am to 3am and Dinner from 5pm through to late.*
 There have be no signs up around the area as to indicate that it has applied for for Liquor Licence,again it does not mean that the owners will not.
 The Cafe does have a liquor licence.*

 The cafe finally opened on the 6th Dec 2013 at 7am. There has been positive response via Twitter with those enjoying what they saw and experienced.

 
Spruce Goose Facebook Page
Spruce Goose Twitter
*Updated 9th Dec 2013
 2nd Update 4th Jan 2013
3rd Update 23rd October 2014

  Wildbaynz/windyhillflyingclub

UA-22479197-5

Wellington: Buckle Street Underpass and National War Memorial Park Open Day 24th November 2014

 A Selection of photos from the Open Day at Buckle Street Underpass,Wellington. It was a good chance to see the work that it is going  on before it opens to traffic in October 2014.
 A good crowd of people from the young to old as well as families. Also the mayor turned up with bike as well as TV1 and TV3 were seen at the site.
 Staff from the construction were on hand to ask questions on the project and there were many people taking this opportunity.
 Also there was a Gold Coin Donation for the Philippine relief fund.

NZTA Buckle Street Info.

Wildbaynz/windyhillflyingclub 2013

UA-22479197-5

Wellington Old and Hidden Buildings: Chinese Mission Hall

 Set back from Taranaki Street and located down Frederick Street sits The Chinese Mission Hall. Built in 1925 and was designed by Frederick de Jersey Clere.

 The Chinese Mission Hall was part of Wellingtons China Town that was about from the 19th Century.The Chinese that settled here arrived from the goldfields of the South Island with many setting up fruit and laundries. There was a darker side which included prostitution and gambling.There is very little left of the Chinese community.
 In 1905 the murder of Joe Kum-Young by a English migrant whom had some extreme racist views.

 From 2009 The Frederick Street Sound and Light Exploration  used the building until May 2012 when its last show at the site was held on the grounds that once housed one of the building next to the hall.
 This was a result of Wellington Council Yellow Ticketing as it is a Earthquake Risk Building.The notice requires the owners 15 years to either strengthen the building or demolish the building.
 Until then it sits alone with fencing around it and a mural that was painted by one of the members of the Frederick Street Sound and Light Exploration.

UA-22479197-5

Wellington Old and Hidden Buildings: Wellington’s Fever/Chest Hospital.


 Over looking Newtown and within a stones throw from the Wellington’s Hospital is the old Fever Hospital.Well hidden behind some old and larger trees it sits on the edge of Mount Vic.
 If spotted from a distance the house looks imposing and has something about it. As with many houses that have a history it is reported that the house is haunted.

The hospital was built between 1918-1920 for use to treat patients with infectious diseases.Most of those that were treated had Tuberculosis. Also during WW1 the hospital was used to treat the returning solders who had influenza. Over 700 were killed by it in the Wellington region alone.
 In 1969 the name change to the Chest Hospital until 1981 when it closed.In 1987 it became Wellington Polytechnic Conservatory of Music who used it for rehearsals up to 1998.
 In 2002 Capital & Coast District Health Board took ownership.Then 2 years later Wellington SPCA submitted a proposal to use it. Finally in 2007 the Council agreed to lease the building to Wellington SPCA.

 Work on the building was stopped in 2009 after concerns by its members of the amount of work required to bring the building up to standard that is required.

 Between 2009 and 2012 the building continued to fall into disrepair. Then in 2012 the Wellington Council and SPCA agreed to a new partnership and building work is now underway to bring the building back up to standard

 The ghostly story is one of a a head nurse called Sister Slippers  who at night would walk the wards in her slippers (hence the name).
 The footwear that she wore would give notice of her ward rounds. This would occur hourly and on the hour every night. She would shine her torch checking on the patients and the staff.  

Wellington SPCA Rehome Details
Please note that the site is a building site so there is no access to the building inside or outside. 11/13
I will update when the work has been completed and operational.

Updated 12/11/2013
wildbaynz/windyhillflyingclub 2013


UA-22479197-5

Out There and Beyond:Hidden Track: Wharemauka Track and Wetland Project.

 This tracks runs for around 10km from Alexander Road,Raumati Beach to the Coastland Shopping Centre,Paraparumu.

 Both entrances can be easily missed as there is no real clear signage. Starting from the Alexander Street entrance the track passes through Weka Park. As the stream you follow it around to the left (do not cross the bridge). To your left the gardens provide a lot of colour from their plants.

 A short while later after the houses stop you pass around one end of Paraparumu Airport, if lucky you may get to see a light plane or Glider tack off or land.

 Cross over the odd looking bridge (say hi to the horses if there).After the horses you may be lucky enough to see a section of flooded land to your right.

 After passing some large trees on the left bank the river turns to the left and at this point a smaller stream joins it.

 Follow the path that follows the smaller stream. You will then notice there is planting along either side of the path.

 This work has been completed by Friends Of Wharemauka Stream. The aim is to improve water quality and stream.

 They have been spending time on this tributary which has degraded. The group has been working on the project since 2008 and with a number of interested parties including Kapiti Coast District Council,the farmer who’s land the stream runs through and a local teacher who took a year off to study.
 The group also received money from a $10000 grant made by Transpower. Also 25 Transpower staff spent a day working worth the group where they spent the time planting.

 The walk does not take long and as it is on the level it is ideal for families and the path underfoot is excellent.

Friends Of Wharemauta Stream
Tracks.Org.NZ   A good map and overview of the track(and others nearby).

UA-22479197-5

Wellington’s Mount Street Cemetery

  Located on Mount Street high above Wellington it has a commanding view of Wellington,its harbour and surrounding suburbs.
 The Cemetery was the first Roman Catholic cemetery in Wellington.It was consecrated by Bishop Pompallier,6th January 1841.

It was used for Catholic burials and contains a number of graves of the 1st Nuns and Priests in Wellington.The Cemetery was in use up to 1891 although burials for family members continued until 1954.

 It is estimated that around 1150 people have been buried here but only 200 headstones survive.

 There is also a maritime connection as well as many people from different countries including Irish,French,Scots and Welsh.

  The Cemetery sits in front of Wellington Victoria University and between Waiteata Road,McKenzie Tce and Mount Street.
 It also forms part of the City to Sea walk which runs from Wellingtons Botanical Garden to Island Bay on the South coast.

Map Location 
City to Sea Walk 
Mount Street Cemetery  A very good site that has links to useful information
Note: Above information can be found in more detail on the Mount Street Cemetery link.
Wildbaynz/windyhillflyingclub  2013


UA-22479197-5

Newtowns Before I Die Blackboard: Wellington

UA-22479197-5

Wellingtons Hidden Places: Truby King House and Gardens



 Located in Melrose,The Truby King Park and House sits on a ridge that overlooks Kilbirnie and beyond to the east and Behampore/Kingston to the west.



 Unless you know its there it is well hidden from view. The house was designed in 1923 for Frederic Truby King who is the founder of The Plunket Society of New Zealand which was established in 1907.
  Truby and and his wife Isabella lived in the house between 1924 and 1932. The Garden covering 10 acres has a number  of brick paths that wind across the side of the hill that overlooks Kilbirnie. It was designed in 1924 as part of the Karitane Hospital that was built near by,so enabling the mothers staying at the hospital  somewhere to relax.

 In 1927 Isabella died and it was in 1932 that Ruby King gifted the house to the Plunket Society.He moved a short distance from the house to a flat in Sutherland Crescent. He then spent a short time back in his former house until he passed away in the February of 1937.


 Truby and his wife a buried in a mausoleum that is located between the house and the gardens. His wife was transferred to the mausoleum after Trubys funeral from a cemetery in Porirua.
  For a while the Plunket Society used the house and land but was then taken over by the army during WW11.
 The house had different uses during the 60’s before going back as a office for the deputy director of nursing.
The house had very little work done on it for a number of years,and by the 70’s it had become neglected   and Plunket found it difficult to maintain.It was not until 1990/91 before the land including the house,mausoleum and gardens were aquired by Wellington Council.
  A number of improvements have been carried out on the house and gardens ensuring that the area is kept in good condition.
 Although the gardens and Mausoleum are open to the public the house is not and viewing is by appointment only.
 The house has now been recognised as having architectural and historical significance.

 There are some very good information signage and maps around the site with some excellent information.
 The road that runs between the house and gardens form part of the Southern Walkway that goes from the bottom of Mt Victoria all the way to Island Bay.
The Historic Places Register  A very good site. Full details on this site and other places within New Zealand 
Mausoleum.                          Link can be found on the above page.
Historic Details                     Additional Information.
Karitane Society                  Details on the Karitane Society
Plunket New Zealand          Main Site
Tracks Org Southern Walkway  Has a good map on the site
Southern Walkway                    Link to the Councils web site where a map and good info can be found
Southern Walkway                   My Blog and Pictures on the Southern Walkway.
Above info from Historic Places Register or Info signs around site.
wildbayNZ/Windyhillflyingclub. 2013
UA-22479197-5