22 February, 2017

Grand old dame of Warkworth back on the public stage

The page turns on a new chapter in the 105-year-old history of the Warkworth Town Hall on Saturday, when the newly refurbished ‘grand old dame’ reopens to the public.

“Maintaining the sense of architectural and social history of the hall was paramount to the success of this restoration,” says architect Antony Matthews, who oversaw the two-and-a-half year upgrade. The building is classified Historic Category One building by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.

The hall has stood at the heart of the community since it opened on 4 October 1911. Countless couples have met on the dancefloor with some later marrying there. In wartime, it was the venue for farewells, fundraising efforts and homecomings.

“It’s great to see the completion of the restoration of Warkworth’s town hall. It means that the building will continue to serve the needs of the local community as it has for more than a century. Most importantly, it keeps alive a critical part of Warkworth’s history and reminds us of the way we were,” says Auckland’s Mayor Phil Goff.

The day will begin with a dawn karakia followed by an official opening at 10am by Mayor Goff and Rodney Local Board member Brenda Steele. The building will then be open to the public who will be entertained with performances from community groups.

“Many people have worked tirelessly over several years to restore the old town hall, and all their hard work and fundraising efforts have certainly paid off. Warkworth has a beautiful, historic and functional town hall that future generations will enjoy using,” says Rodney Local Board member Brenda Steele.

The Warkworth Town Hall’s significance goes beyond the centre’s history. It’s the only civic building in New Zealand and one of only a handful in Australasia constructed from hollow glazed blocks. The materials were devised and patented by Tom Clark Snr, who built the hall in 1911. The handmade blocks add to the unique character and were a precursor to the concrete blocks used today.

The $5.6m cost of the restoration project was covered by the Rodney Local Board, Warkworth Town Hall Restoration Trust (WTHRT), the WTHRT fundraising committee, Auckland Council, a Lotteries Commission grant and Watercare.

ENDS

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