Earlier this year, McGill’s Flour Mill owner, Dunedin entrepreneur Ezra Eini, began demolition work on the derelict three-storey building that sits prominently off State Highway 1 at Milton’s southern exit.
However, Mr Eini said in March he was contacted by Heritage NZ, who demanded he cease work immediately due to the age of the structure.
The mill was built from brick in 1887 to replace a previous wooden mill that burnt down.
It later passed into the ownership of Flemings, of Creamoata fame, before being sold to the adjoining woollen mill for use as a wool store.
Mr Eini said since the woollen mill closed in 1999, the building had fallen into serious disrepair, and now required demolition for safety reasons.
‘‘The building hasn’t been used for 50 years, and has long been unsound and rotten through its interior.
‘‘We’d like to knock it down, move the surrounding [car] wreckers to the rear of the site away from the highway, and redevelop the road frontage with a new build. Unfortunately, Heritage NZ have put a stop to that development.’’
Mr Eini said he was reviewing the necessary applications to continue, as advised by Heritage NZ.
‘‘It’s a concern at the moment, because you don’t want anyone to enter the building while it’s in its current state, and possibly come to harm. We’d like to get moving.’’
‘‘Under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act 2014 it is an offence to damage an archaeological site without an authority from Heritage New Zealand. This means that demolition of any pre-1900 buildings cannot resume until an archaeological authority has been obtained.’’
Although health and safety concerns could be a legitimate reason for demolition, an ‘‘archaeological authority’’ was still required, she said, including recording of any archaeological elements of interest before demolition occurred.
‘‘The first step in obtaining an archaeological authority is to have the site and works assessed by a consultant archaeologist. [That] will assess the damage already done to the buildings, identify which buildings and works need to be subject to the authority, and make recommendations as to the appropriate level of recording.’’
Tokomairiro Historical Society president Nancy Allison said although many Milton residents would be sad to see the mill go, she believed it was necessary.
‘‘It’s been a disaster zone for the past 20 years. It’s definitely a landmark, particularly its chimney, but knowing the state it’s in, it’s really beyond reasonable repair.
‘‘But we’ll be sad to see it go.’’
