Derelict Dunedin buildings coming down

Work is under way to demolish the former Drake Leather building in Rattray St, Dunedin, one of a row of derelict buildings in the street.

• Opinion: Disregarding heritage too easy

The Otago Daily Times reported in October Philip Laing House Ltd director and developer Tony Clear said work to demolish the row of buildings, including their facades, had been started on site and was expected to be completed early this year.

No plans for the site had been determined, Mr Clear said.

Previously, in 2021, Dunedin City Council building solutions manager Paul Henderson said the council issued a notice to fix that was subsequently lifted after a structural engineer inspected the building and did not believe it was at risk of collapse in the normal course of events.

The engineer did recommend, though, planked scaffolding, which had since been installed, to protect pedestrians from any falling plaster.

The row of Rattray St buildings was once owned by Dunedin’s Chin family and at times housed the brothel Club 166 and the Tai Ping Restaurant.

The building is owned by Philip Laing House Ltd.