One of the oldest buildings in the Hawke's Bay education system has come down with the demolition of the century-old Sacred Heart College hostel in Napier.
The renovated hostel was closed four years ago after it was partly damaged in a fire which destroyed the Bluff Hill landmark's almost adjoining convent and chapel in 2001.
School principal Steve Bryan said its demolition was part of a $1.75 million project for providing new "sacred space" and a cultural performance area, including an outdoor amphitheatre.
Demolition started at the end of the school year in December, and the 300-plus girls starting back at school yesterday arrived to see a heap of rubble about to be cleared prior to the removal of the original building pad.
Because of the heritage status of the building and the site, where a school was first established in 1867, a special demolition order had to be approved and the pad will be removed under archaeological supervision by the middle of next month - "to see if there are any relics underneath," Mr Bryan said.
Next month marks the 150th anniversary of the arrival in Napier of the Sisters of our Lady of the Missions who founded the school, which will mark its 150th anniversary in two years.