A fascinating piece of Aotearoa’s WWII history will be given new life this year thanks to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board.
The building at 139 Beach Road in Castor Bay may look like an unassuming bungalow in need of a lick of paint but as the only remaining original barracks building used to house soldiers stationed at the Castor Bay coastal defence site during WWII, it’s a window into a unique passage in our military past.
“The interest is in the camouflage that was used. The whole place was designed to look like a civilian housing estate, and this was part of the barracks. It looks like a state house, but it was an integral part of the barracks and battery that was built during the war. And this is unique in New Zealand and the southern hemisphere. So, we’re delighted that the board has agreed to restore this building,” says Chris Owen, Chair of the Kennedy Park WWII Installations Preservation Trust.
While the building has been fenced off and in disrepair for years due to budget restraints, local community groups have been lobbying for its repair since Auckland Council purchased the building in 2014.
“A petition by the Castor Bay Ratepayers and Residents’ Association in 2023 demonstrated a strong community appetite to have the building restored and the hoardings come down and I’m happy to report that’s what we’ll finally be doing,” explains Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Chair Toni van Tonder.
“As a heritage listed property, renewal of its façade isn’t cheap, so we won’t be able to renew the internal space at this time. However, we will be working with council staff to start discussions on a future commercial use of the building once the property has been upgraded. We’ll also be complementing the renewal with informative signage that educates the public on the unique history of the building and the surrounds.”
Stay up to date
Want to stay up to date with all the latest news from your area? Sign up for your Local Board E-news and get the latest direct to your inbox each month.
