Beloved Boathouse back in business
Nelson’s iconic waterfront venue The Boathouse is open again with a shiny new set of floorboards, nine months after it suffered extensive damage during a storm.
The Boathouse manager Amie-Jo Trayes said it had been an ‘‘epic effort’’ to get the Wakefield Quay venue up and running again after it was damaged by ex-cyclone Fehi on February 1.
Work to remedy the destruction began in March, and Trayes said she was initially told that repairs would take three weeks. Now, nine months later, the building has been fully restored.
The venue was blessed by Archdeacon Harvey Ruru at a service on Friday. Trayes said those who attended were surprised by how it looked.
‘‘They were saying it was better than ever. They really loved the exposed beams at the top, they appreciated the attention to detail, and the floor was the thing that blew everyone away.’’
Pupils from Auckland Point School also sang at the blessing, filling the venue with music.
The Boathouse was originally built in 1906, and work was done during the rebuild to make sure its heritage features were maintained.
The venue had comprehensive insurance, but Trayes said the rebuild process uncovered more work that needed to be done. Pulling up the floorboards exposed multiple joists that had been damaged by the sea over time.
The costs that weren’t covered by insurance had reached around $400,000 and were covered by donations and funding grants.
Trayes said the community had pulled together to support the rebuild of the iconic venue.
West Coast beech timber recovered from a previous cyclone was used for the flooring, work was also done to renew the deck, and a new kitchen meant the venue now had the capacity for larger events. There had also been strengthening work to help prevent future storm damage.
The Boathouse Society management committee chair Annie Henry said the last nine months had been a testing time, but provided an opportunity to rejuvenate the building.
‘‘It really is a beautiful building in a stunning setting, and we are all very excited about stepping back inside and on to the new floorboards.’’
The building’s boat ramp is yet to be rebuilt. Henry said the structural engineer and rebuild committee were considering other futureproofing ideas.
Over the next few weeks, The Boathouse will host a birthday party and a wedding, with members of the public invited to an open day on October 28.
Coming events include the sold-out Opening Benefit Bash with The Warratahs on November 1, an encore Warratahs concert on November 2, and a Benefit Ball with the Nelson Jazz Club on November 10 . More information at theboathousenelson.co.nz.
The Boathouse Open Day will be held from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, October 28. Entry is free.