Removal of huts being investigated

An investigation is under way to determine how two heritage huts, located in the wider Queenstown Airport precinct, came to be removed by a contractor.

The former McBride Farm garage shed and "hut", on Grant Rd at Frankton, were given Historic Place Category 2 listings in 2008.They dated back to the 1800s.

In a media statement yesterday Queenstown Airport communications adviser Naomi Lindsay described the removal of the two huts as "unintended".

The incident occurred when a contractor the airport engaged to "clear up a site" in the airport precinct "removed and disposed of the structures".

The airport corporation advised Heritage New Zealand on October 17, along with the Queenstown Lakes District Council and the Wakatipu Heritage Trust.

Queenstown Airport’s property and planning general manager Rachel Tregidga said the airport "deeply regretted" the loss of the two heritage-listed structures.

"While there were works happening in the vicinity of these former farm buildings, there was absolutely no intention on the airport’s behalf to have the huts removed.

"We would like to sincerely apologise to both our local community and the heritage organisations and assure them that we are taking this matter very seriously.

"We are fully investigating the processes that led to this unintended loss of local heritage to ensure that other heritage buildings, both now and in the future, are appropriately protected.

"We will report back to the appropriate authorities and community once the investigation is complete."

Because the incident was under investigation, QAC could not provide any further comment, including the name of the contracted company.

The garage shed and hut were part of a collection of six buildings — all of which carried the same listing, according to Heritage NZ’s website.

Remaining buildings are the former smithy, dairy, barn and grain barn, all associated with the development of Wakatipu as an agricultural area, centred around grain growing in the 19th century.

The website says the former McBride Farm was associated with the nearby Brunswick Flour Mill through its original owner, James W. Robertson, and his related businesses.

The farm, prominent in Wakatipu until 2006, was later owned by members of the McBride family.

Originally from Ireland, 29-year-old Hugh McBride arrived in New Zealand aboard Black Swan in 1865, with his younger sisters.

Mr McBride married Sarah McCormick in 1875 with whom he had nine children.  He worked initially in the sawmill at Kinloch and then worked at the Brunswick Flour Mill, before taking up land at Lake Hayes and becoming one of the most successful farmers in the district.

Another of the original farm’s protected buildings is the McBride Cottage, now known as the Red Cottage, located in the Bridesdale Farm Special Housing Area. It was built by John McDonald in the 1870s and is to be turned into a cafe.

tracey.roxburgh@odt.co.nz