Shot tower saved for history
When Cyclone Gabrielle threatened an historic tower in central Auckland and safety teams were deployed to evacuate surrounding residents, a crack team of digital technology specialists had already sprung into action to capture its unique architectural value.
Auckland Council partnered with the School of Architecture at Unitec-Te Pūkenga and the School of the Built Environment at Massey University to conduct a drone scan of the historic Colonial Ammunition Company Shot Tower on Normanby Rd in Mt Eden.
Built in 1914, the tower produced small shot balls from free-falling molten lead.
It was the last Shot Tower standing in Aotearoa New Zealand and is believed to be the only steel-framed tower of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
It was also valuable as a distinctive landmark reflecting the industrial history of the local area.
This distinction meant Auckland Council and Heritage New Zealand wanted to make a permanent digital record of the structure and its site, so a drone scan was completed by Associate Professor Renata Jadresin-Milic from Unitec-Te Pūkenga and Professor Regan Potangaroa from Massey University.
The pair needed to capture detailed images and data of the
Shot Tower and its surroundings based on a carefully planned drone flight path, which encompassed all necessary angles and took in close-up shots of historic features and wider shots that placed the structure in its historical context.
All of this had to be achieved while working outside the 35-metre cordoned-off zone of the Shot Tower.
This planned work became more urgent with concerns that the structure, already earmarked for demolition due to known structural integrity issues, could collapse under the anticipated wind loads from
Cyclone Gabrielle.
Ahead of the cyclone’s arrival, Auckland Council made the call to evacuate the immediate area and proceed with plans for its demolition, adding further urgency to the timeline for scanning.
The Shot Tower was demolished only days after the scanning work was completed.
Associate Professor Jadresin-Milic says: ‘‘The scanned data is now being processed to produce the point clouds and digital copies of the Shot Tower. This may include a 3D model or virtual tour, which can be accessed by future researchers, historians, or interested members of the public. This is important work that brings together a notable piece of Auckland’s history while demonstrating the value of using cutting-edge technology to document and understand our past. We plan to apply similar methods to the preservation of other significant heritage sites in Tāmaki Makaurau.’’
Noel Reardon, heritage manager at Auckland Council, says, ‘‘Now that we have a permanent digital record of the Shot Tower we are working through the planning stages of how we utilise this important information. We look forward to recording other buildings and sites in conjunction with Unitec and Massey in an effort to capture the rich heritage of Tāmaki Makaurau.’’
During the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon events happening around Auckland this year, competitors have also been given the option of a free breakfast to fuel up.
Anchor supplied the Weet-Bix and milk brekkies at the Central East Auckland Sanitarium TRYathlon, saying it is committed to ensuring every Kiwi kid taking part starts the day with a nutritious breakfast.
Children competing at the event were able to visit the official breakfast tent.
Amavi Mey, community engagement manager, says the free breakfast will ensure every TRYathlete starts the day with the right nutrients in order to be at their best on TRYathlon day.
‘‘At Anchor we believe a great day starts with great nutrition, so we wanted to help make sure every Kiwi kid taking part in the Weet-BixKids TRYathlon this year has the energy they need to get them through race day,’’ she says.
Anchor already sponsors the KickStart Breakfast programme, a partnership between Fonterra, the Ministry of Social Development and Sanitarium, which provides a free, nutritious breakfast of Anchor Milk and Weet-Bix at schools in an inclusive and welcoming environment.