“External windows can be pre-ordered and picked up once they have been removed from the building.
“Other items, such as internal doors and internal windows, metal lockers, fireplace surrounds, desks, chairs, benches, sinks and fittings will be available for purchase on the open days.”
Last July, councillors voted 9-4 in favour of deconstruction.
Palmerston North-based ARC Asbestos Removal and Demolition began the work in January, with the combined cost to the council of asbestos removal, deconstruction, and interior and exterior heritage recordings totalling $1.379 million.
The community was invited to have a final look around the buildings on February 11.
Deconstruction is scheduled to finish in May.
The school’s original buildings were constructed in 1926, with a western chapel wing following in 1957.
“Items from the 1926 building include roof tiles believed to have arrived in New Zealand as ships’ ballast before being installed on the building,” the council said.
“Around 500,000 bricks were produced locally at Bastia Hill Brickworks – almost an entire year’s production at the time."
Council chief strategy officer Sarah O’Hagan said about 90-95% of the building’s materials, currently estimated at 658 tonnes, would be repurposed.
Several items had been repurposed in public spaces “to benefit the community”, including water fountains at Kowhai Park and Te Mana Park, adventure playground equipment at Te Mana Park and restored gates at the Davis Library, she said.
The council is considering turning the upper part of Te Mana Park in Aramoho into a playground and open space development.
Whanganui Regional Heritage Trust co-chairwoman Mary-Ann Ewing said the deconstruction process had been “a textbook example of how to do it”.
The trust has been working with the council to preserve materials from the site.
“Early on, we were afraid there would be a wrecking ball [approach] but that doesn’t seem to be the case,” she said.
“We never believe that we have to keep every old building but there have been examples in the past that have just been bulldozed down.”
Organisations connected to the building, including St George’s and Te Oranganui, had already been offered materials with heritage or commemorative value, the council said.
“St George’s has received items to build a commemorative walkway and pavilion, while Te Oranganui will incorporate timber into on-site projects.”
Te Oranganui has a three-stage plan for its development, with the third, a wider community hub with allied health services, to be built on land occupied by the former school buildings.
Open days will run from April 9 to May 30 on Thursdays (2pm to 4pm) and Saturdays (noon to 2pm).
Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present,the his focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.
