School’s oldest building comes down
SCHOOL’S out – and the wreckers have moved in.
A multimillion-dollar demolition of Samuel Marsden Collegiate School’s oldest building has started after it had lain vacant for more than two years.
School principal Jenny Williams said the demolition started on December 18. The building was being knocked down because it was an earthquake risk and needed seismic strengthening.
‘‘We decided a better approach was to build a modern learning space instead.
‘‘It’s a little more [money] than if we had strengthened it, but we will get a far better product. It just means we can lead the way with modern learning in Wellington.’’
The new building would include open floor plans, spaces for students to collaborate and a modern library.
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actress and acting coach Miranda Harcourt said she had fond memories of the main block, which once housed the principal’s office and the cafeteria.
‘‘It’s sad to say goodbye, but it’s an exciting time,’’ she said.
‘‘I have got memories of some of my oldest friends and I going to knock on the principal’s door, terrified.’’
Not all of the historic 1926 block would be lost – the entrance and back part of the building itself were able to be saved.
The demolition has revealed its own secrets, with a bell tower discovered inside the roof. Williams said she believed it had been connected to a turret on top of the building, which was blown off during the Wahine storm in 1968.
The Karori school was retaining some of the old bricks to be sold as mementos.
The girls’ school was established in 1876 and moved from Thorndon to Karori in 1926.