Century-old convent on move to Greytown

MOVING DAY: The convent, split into two parts at its new location. PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK.

A piece of Pahiatua history has made its way to Greytown.

The historical 101-year-old Brigidine Convent was put on the market earlier this year and its new owner has relocated it to a 2.4ha property on Wood St.

The convent was owned by St Brigid's Parish and in more recent times was used for social events, children's classes and by people who needed accommodation.

Built in 1912 for 1400 or $222,258 in today's dollars, it was originally founded as accommodation for the Brigidine Sisters.

Travelling nuns who were teaching at the Catholic School also stayed there and the sisters taught piano and helped people with speech problems in the house.

The building was sold to Professor John Bushnell from Australia, said John Arends, Property Brokers agent for South Tararua.

Dr Bushnell, a Kiwi, and his wife are moving back to New Zealand and will use the former convent as a home. He moved back to retire, he said, but will be kept busy restoring the building to its former glory.

The couple bought the convent because of its unique history, said Dr Bushnell.

"It's such a gorgeous building and its history is really interesting."

He had the privilege of meeting one of the nuns who had lived in the convent.

"It's clearly been an important part of the Pahiatua community."

Dr Bushnell said the structure of the main part of the building was sound.

Some work would be done on changing parts of the inside of the building, such as turning the chapel into a dining room, he said.

The convent was sold and shifted from its original location on Tyndall St in Pahiatua by the parish to fund the refurbishment of its church.

The parish plans to use the convent's former site to develop accommodation for elderly people.