One other option was to spend $15,000 on minor renovations so it could continue to be used as storage. Either way the council would incur maintenance costs of about $1000 a year to keep the building.
Demolishing the barn would cost the council about $15,000.
The barn was part of the former Frimley Homestead which was hit by fire in 1951. Owner the Williams family donated over 47 acres of land to the Hastings Borough in memory of their pioneer parents.
It was now known as Frimley Park and the barn, about 20m long by 5m wide, was specified to be for the continued use by the Girl Guides. The New Zealand Historic Places Trust said while the building was not registered or listed, it did have heritage value because of its connection with the history of the Williams family, the former Frimley farm station and the development of Hastings.
The trust said the barn was worthy of retention and councillors Kevin Watkins and Sandra Hazelhurst agreed.
They were in favour of retaining the barn and committing $15,000 on minor upgrades so at least it would be available for another community organisation to use in the future.
"Having been a guide I have some wonderful memories of the barn. To remove it should not be an option. It could be used for something new in the future," Cr Hazelhurst said.
Councillor Cynthia Bowers said it was the annual $1000 maintenance cost which worried her the most. "Looking at the barn, even if we make minor renovations I can't think of a community organisation that would want to use it," she said.
"Groups these days have high expectations of where they hold and run their activities."
Cr Bowers supported an idea from councillor John Roil that an option be left open for the barn to be moved off site just "in case there is someone who may want to take it for timber or another use".
