Saving the old kauri former schoolhouse has been a years-long campaign for Dunedin’s Southern Heritage Trust, and yesterday the Ministry of Education said discussions with the trust, Heritage New Zealand, and the community were important in its decision-making.
Heritage advocates celebrated the news.
Arthur Street School principal Kim Blackwood said she was delighted the ministry had taken the views of the wider community on board and decided to keep and refurbish the infants’ building.
"It is part of the fabric of our school and provides a space for our students to acknowledge and appreciate the rich history that the building contributes towards education in Aotearoa New Zealand," Ms Blackwood said.
After an extensive refurbishment, it would fit in nicely with the rest of the redeveloped campus, she said.
Ministry asset management general manager Simon Hatherill said at present the ministry did not have an estimate of the cost, or an exact purpose for the building’s refit, "though initial thoughts are for curriculum activities like metal work and woodwork".
"After consultation and discussion with various groups, including Southern Heritage Trust and Heritage New Zealand, we have decided to retain the Arthur Street School infants’ building and redevelop it as a facility complementary to the school rebuild," Mr Hatherill said.
Former Arthur Street School principal Bruce Robertson, whose tenure extended from 1993 to 2010, said the building was first used after the 1877 Education Act made school compulsory and a corresponding increase in pupils led to overcrowding.
However, when he was at the school it was used as a library.
Former Arthur Street School teacher Joan Gooseman, who taught at the school for 49 years until 2008, was thrilled.
"It’s a lovely old building; it’s been part of the school for so long and it represents the very first school in Dunedin.
"It’s quite dear to my heart," she said.
It was important to keep some 19th century heritage intact at a school promoted as Dunedin’s first, heritage consultant Matthew Schmidt said.
Dr Schmidt said it was a good outcome for heritage advocates promoting "a reasonable solution" to the adaptive reuse of a heritage building.
Southern Heritage Trust chairwoman Jo Galer said the trust submitted a petition with more than 2000 signatures to the ministry last week.
"We were delighted to hear today that it was going to be saved as it rightfully should have been, and also that it’s going to be used — reused — and turned into a teaching space.
"I think also it’s a bit of a wake-up call that we need to treasure our heritage in Dunedin and make sure that we do actually go into battle for it.
"It obviously means we can get results."
Southern Heritage Trust founding trustee Ann Barsby said it was a "fantastic" result.
Heritage New Zealand lists the 1887 building as a category 2 historic place.
