Facelift mooted for Devonport wharf

Devonport wharf fails to take advantage of the village's character. File picture

Devonport's dreary ferry wharf has been offered a chance to become a welcoming harbour gateway by winners of the village's urban design competition.

Sills van Bohemen Architecture proposes improving "the sense of arrival" for visitors.

The key is to continue the palm-lined Victoria St footpath on its axis directly to the ferry building, say Aaron Sills and Christina van Bohemen.

This creates a public wharf extension, with more direct access to the ferry, and allows the north-eastern side of the ferry building to be opened out into a sheltered space.

Upon stepping through the ferry building onto the new wharf extension, visitors will be able to orientate with a single view of Devonport that takes in its landmarks.

The concept, which has emerged after a second round of entries in the competition, will be refined in coming months by the Devonport Community Board.

More than a millon people a year walk through the hook-shaped commercial wharf to catch ferries.

But since opening in 1992, the building has had a string of owners and its thoroughfare shops and food court are mostly empty.

Its public toilets closed some time ago.

The village prides itself on its visitor appeal.

Attractions include Victorian and Edwardian buildings, eateries, speciality shops, galleries, Mt Victoria and a leafy waterside park.

But the wharf turns its back on these attractions.

"It's awful and not compatible with the image of Devonport," said community board chairman Mike Cohen.

"It has the best views in Auckland but looks away from the sea."

Tourism Auckland chief Graeme Osborne was diplomatic: "It doesn't have a global quality presence and there is great merit in upgrading it."

Michael Fitchett, spokesman for ferry operators Fullers Auckland, said: "We say Devonport is a great place but we don't mention the wharf."

Andrew Van Der Peet, manager of the Esplanade Hotel, a wharf neighbour, said: "As a gateway it's a great opportunity being wasted. It's inadequate for a tourist attraction."

Art of This World gallery co-owner Sally Lush said: "After a lovely harbour journey, people are shunted into a dark tunnel which is worn out and sad.

"People are confronted with a stream of buses and a carpark and wondering where to go."

Mr Cohen said the design was to build on the strong elements already in the village.

He hoped that a small working group, with diverse skills and local knowledge, would shape the concept into a master plan by July, so detailed plans could be ready by next year.

Wharf owner Monice Properties, which is a subsidiary of property financier Bridgecorp, made no comment on the concept.