BIG JOB: Steve Bryan, principal of Sacred Heart College, Napier, looks over the demolition of the school's cultural centre and boarding hostel. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN
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.
