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Visitors to Warkworth will get a better sense of the town’s history when a Heritage Mahurangi project kicks off later this month.
Following on from the publication of a walking and driving Heritage Trail brochure in 2022, the group plans to identify heritage buildings in the area with a series of publicly displayed alloy plaques.
Chair Dave Parker says there will be 13 initially, but there are potentially 30 buildings and sites between Pūhoi and Warkworth, including Leigh and Matakana, which could be included.
The initial list includes the Bridgehouse Lodge (1854), Warkworth Hotel (1862), Thomson /Broomfield House (1870), Warkworth Anglican Church (1876), St Columbia Presbyterian Church (1876), Warkworth Methodist Church (1876), Warkworth Courthouse (1880), Warkworth Brass Band hall (1883) and the former Warkworth Post Office (1911).
Heritage Mahurangi had hoped to include four Auckland Council owned buildings/sites, but hit a stumbling block.
The group has been told it will need resource consent, as well as landowner approval, to affix the plaques to the old Masonic Hall (1883), Wilson Cement works (1878), the band rotunda on Church Hill (1911) and the Warkworth Town Hall (1911).
“The private building owners have been very enthusiastic,” Parker says. “It’s only council that has caused the hiccup. It’s ridiculous that we need a resource consent to attach a small plaque to a building.”
The oval shaped plaques are 300mm x 200mm, and include a QR code so visitors can access additional information on the building or site.
Each plaque costs $150, with the group covering the costs. However, Parker says they would welcome any donations from building owners or other businesses.
