Historic Places recognises Greenlane Hospital

Historic Places Trust recognises Greenlane Hospital heritage

The New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT) has announced the registration of three buildings at Greenlane Hospital with Category 1 historic place status; a decision applauded by the Auckland Regional Council (ARC).

The Category 1 registration formally recognises the buildings as having outstanding historical significance.

The ARC opposed the demolition of one of the three buildings, Building 5, when the Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) was granted resource consent to demolish it in early 2008.

“The collection of three neighbouring buildings represents the development of health care, from charitable aid to the provision of modern medical care by the state, as a human right,” says Cr Sandra Coney, chairperson of the Parks and Heritage Committee.

“They have long been prominent landmarks in Epsom, and are all handsome buildings in their differing, distinctive styles.

“Many of our forebears ended their days in the Costley Block, or the Infirmary Ward, and in more recent times the cardiac unit has saved many lives. Numerous Auckland families have connections with these buildings.”

The Category 1 registration includes the former Costley Home for the Aged Poor building (Building 6); the former Infirmary Ward for Incurables (Building 5); the Main Building (Building 7); and the land under the 1960’s Administration Building (Building 8).

After 120 years of service to the elderly, poor and sick, the buildings have been home to major medical breakthroughs and changes in medical beliefs regarding treatments and cures. In particular, Greenlane became internationally renowned for heart surgery under Sir Douglas Robb (1899-1974) and Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes (1924-2006), seeing the first open heart operation in the country in 1958, and only the second heart valve replacement in the world (1962).

“Each building is important in its own right – but together they reflect the changing face of institutional public health care in New Zealand,” says Sherry Reynolds NZHPT General Manager Northern.

“From the Victorian-era Costley Home for the Aged Poor, through to the Main Building built during the Second World War, the Greenlane Hospital buildings are unique in that they tell the story of the evolution of public health care in New Zealand, and as such are most deserving of their Category 1 historic place status.”
Building 5, opened in 1907, had been facing demolition until January this year when the ADHB withdrew its demolition consent.

“Saving these buildings from the wrecking ball has been a long process. I acknowledge the tireless efforts of Helen Geary, who started this process by speaking up for Building 5 when the Auckland District Health Board stated its intention to demolish it,” says Cr Coney.

On behalf of hospital staff at Greenlane, heritage advocate Helen Geary was responsible for making the initial appeal against demolition by the ADHB in 2007.

“I am thrilled that the Historic Places Trust has registered the buildings as Category 1, but now it is time for the ADHB to show some leadership by putting in place a long-term strategy for the redevelopment of the site and renovation of the buildings,” says campaigner Helen Geary.

A 2008 architectural assessment of Building 5 had found that there was little cost difference between renovation and a demolition-rebuild. The ARC jointly funded this assessment and subsequently supported and advocated for the scheduling of Building 5 in the Auckland City Council District Plan.

The ARC has always supported the need to protect the wider complex of buildings and the historic nature of the site at Greenlane.

ENDS

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