Bach 38, Rangitoto Island. Auckland. New Zealand.
S 36° 48.495 E 174° 51.670
60H E 309205 N 5924264
A restored historic holiday bach on Auckland's volcanic Rangitoto Island has won a United Nations heritage award.
Waymark Code: WMB6NY
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 04/12/2011
Views: 11
2008 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards
A jury of twelve international conservation experts gave 17 awards out of 45 entries. The conservation project submissions included hotels, cultural and public institutions, religious sites, residential buildings and urban district from 13 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The historic cottage on Rangitoto Island, an extinct volcano situated just off the coastline of Auckland City, was fully restored by volunteers with help from architects and professional builders. The Rangitoto Island Historic Conservation Trust was formed in 1997 to retain, restore and interpret the baches left on the island.
Unesco said the conservation works were carried out in a modest and effective manner and attention to details, such as the interior finishes, had allowed the building fabric to remain intact.
The cottage was built in 1928 and is now a museum and information centre giving visitors a glimpse of bach holidays from the 1930s to the 1960s. The bach communities on the Island were built in the 1920's and 30's and consisted of leased private holiday dwellings and boatsheds as well as communal facilities, and were built by families, using the scarce resources of the Depression era.
As leases expired in the 1970s and 80s many baches were pulled down until only 34 remained.
However, by then it was realised that the remaining bach settlements were among the last of their kind anywhere in the country. They have survived to become irreplaceable artefacts of New Zealand’s architectural and social history. Now there are Bach open days which are held as part of the Auckland Council's Heritage Festival and have proved very popular for visitors to see and learn about the history of the iconic baches that remain on the island.
The UNESCO award has placed the unassuming little kiwi seaside bach on the world stage and recognises the importance of the iconic holiday bach settlements in New Zealand’s architectural and social history.
Award Collection:
2008 - UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards - http://www.unescobkk.org/culture/world-heritage-and-immovable-heritage/asia-pacific-heritage-awards-for-culture-heritage-conservation/
Number of award plaques:: no
Sites web address: [Web Link]
Type of awarded site: Single building
Other type. Please explain: Not listed
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