The page turned on a new chapter in the 105-year history of the Warkworth Town Hall on Saturday 25 February when the newly refurbished 'grand old dame' reopened to the public.
A significant history
"Maintaining the sense of architectural and social history of the hall was paramount to the success of this restoration," says architect Antony Matthews, who oversaw the two-and-a-half-year upgrade.
The hall is classified as a Category 1 historic building by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. It has stood at the heart of the community since it opened on 4 October 1911. Countless couples have met on the dancefloor with some later marrying there. In wartime, it was the venue for farewells, fundraising efforts and homecomings.
"It's great to see the completion of the restoration of Warkworth's town hall," says Auckland Mayor Phil Goff.
"It means that the building will continue to serve the needs of the local community as it has for more than a century. Most importantly, it keeps alive a critical part of Warkworth's history and reminds us of the way we were."
The opening ceremony
The day began with a dawn karakia followed by an official opening at 10am with speeches from Rodney Ward Councillor Greg Sayers and Rodney Local Board member Brenda Steele. The building was then opened to members of the public, who were entertained with performances from community groups.
"Many people have worked tirelessly over several years to restore the old town hall, and all their hard work and fundraising efforts have certainly paid off," says Rodney Local Board member Brenda Steele.
"Warkworth now has a beautiful, historic and functional town hall that future generations will enjoy using."
A distinctive building
The Warkworth Town Hall's significance goes beyond the centre's history. It's the only civic building in New Zealand and one of only a handful in Australasia constructed from hollow glazed blocks. The materials were devised and patented by Tom Clark snr, who built the hall in 1911. The handmade blocks add to the unique character and were a precursor to the concrete blocks used today. The removal of the modern addition on the prominent Neville Street elevation has fully revealed the distinctive qualities of these bricks, for everyone to appreciate on this main entry point to the town centre.
The $5.6 million cost of the restoration project was covered by Rodney Local Board, the Warkworth Town Hall Restoration Trust (WTHRT), the WTHRT fundraising committee, Auckland Council, a Lotteries Commission grant and Watercare.
