Wellington SPCA – WildBay

Wellington SPCA New Home Open Day: New Use of a Old Building

Finally after 10 years of hard work behind the scenes Wellington SPCA held its open day on Waitangi Day (6th Feb 2014)
Before Christmas 2013 every thing was moved into the new building from its old site,therefore beginning a new era for the SPCA and the old Fever Hospital.

Even before 10am there was a lot of people turning up and through out the day there was a very steady stream of people arriving to look at behind the scenes.

Visitors got to see areas that would not normally be open as well as those areas that would house the animals.

These areas would include kennels and surgery areas as well as admin. Staff were on hand to answer questions as well as being able to show of those animals that have made full recoveries.

It was also a good chance for those thinking of adopting a animal to see what was required.

A lot of work was required to bring the building up to standard and the building still retains many of its original external features going back to when it was built.

The official opening took place at 11.30 with speech’s from the SPCA, Mayor of Wellingon Celia Wade-Brown and NZ Governor General Jerry Mateparae.

The Governor General speech included that his current cat was from the SPCA and how it now rules the Govenment House and its grounds. He also reminded that all rate payers had a stake in the building.
A good quote was that saving one animal would not mean that a species would be saved but it would change how people would help.

Whilst Celia during her speech mentioned that as a horticulture student that she helped to do some planting which she said probably no longer there.Also she said that there was very little that could be done with the building as it sit’s in Wellingtons Green Belt.

She also recognized the previous mayor Kerry Prendergrast who was a firm supporter of allowing the SPCA to use the building.

Below are a number of links to the SPCA and a brief history of the old Fever Building.

Wellington SPCA Web Page
Wellington SPCA Facebook
Wellington Fever Hospital: A Brief History.

wildbaynz/windhillflyingclub 2014

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