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Historic Village and Heritage Park Society
History
HistoryThe August 1, 1989 'Leader' reported that Silver Stream Railway was hosting a meeting seeking to form a steering committee; Silver Stream did not have the time to work on such a project. A greyscale map was printed with the article.
The May 15, 1990 'Leader' reported on the society's first annual general meeting; former Heretaunga-Pinehaven councillor and company director Peter Duncan was elected president; Bryan Walker, vice-president. In addition to elected members, the executive committee would include representatives from the Hutt and Wellington city councils, Wellington Regional Council, Silverstream Railway Society, Bedplate press Printing Museum, Wellington Vintage Machinery, and Orongomai Marae. The society was negotiating for several class 'C' buildings threatened by a motorway extension.
The July 31, 1990 'Leader' printed a photo of a model of the proposed village, made by councillor Steven Wilson.
The June 25, 1991 issue printed a long letter from councillor Ralph Miller, who said that he had proposed the village at a District Council meeting in 1989, and that at the time, Peter Duncan had said the proposal had 'the ingredients for a disaster', yet he was now recommending that the Upper Hutt council support the project. An estimated rental for the land might be $11 000. He suggested that costs to ratepayers might be $146 900, and the society's costs $224 500. The council's policy committee had recommended a three-year lease at $11 000, an annual $22 500 grant, plus grants of $750 towards a planning application, and one to cover the first year's rental; a full council meeting was imminent. The same issue printed a picture of an updated model, exhibited at a hobbies and crafts exhibition.
The July 30 'Leader said the council had voted 8-5 to accept the recommendations; the alternative had been to allow Hutt Independent Boys' School to build on the land.
Building permits would not be issued until agencies involved confirmed their commitment to the project.
February 18, 1992; the trust had accepted the lease.
April 1992; new president, Keith Davis, a former Regional Council water services officer.
May 5, 1992; Peter McCardle turned the first sod, with a small backhoe.
December 7, 1992; in October the council had threatened to take legal action if a worker's cottage obtained fro the Historic Places Trust was not removed; it was now hoped that the land could be re-designated for a museum, and that the society would buy it. The former Jina's building and the former Silverstream fire station were waiting on adjacent Coles Myer land.
August 23, 1993; the land had a government value of $80 000, but the society argued that it was fill in parts, subject to flooding and had building limitations; an without a bridge over Hulls Creek was only partly accessible. The society was ready to make a cash offer once a value had been agreed between the council's and the society's valuers.
At the beginning of 1994, Hutt Independent Boys' School had moved from Silverstream to Trentham.
February 14, 1994; the society felt it had 'all but reached the end of the road', and planned to fold if the council turned down a $75 000 offer. They were also unhappy with a rent demand for 1993, as they had been unable to occupy the land, due to lease conditions.
February 28; the council had refused the society's offer; the Bedplate Printing Museum might have to move to Petone.
March 24; at the AGM, members voted against winding up.
April 18; full-page advertisement sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the Retailers Association, with their letters of support; the trust and Silver Stream Railway were seeking 'Friends of Kiwiana' and donations.
January 4, 1995; after Hutt International Boys' School moved to Trentham Racecourse, the former council building had been sold to Glen Tomlinson, a Blenheim rest home operator, at the end of 1994, for $365 000; he planned to convert it into a 40-bed rest home, and to add 13 self-contained villas.
August 23; a consortium which included Silver Stream Railway, Bedplate Printing Museum, Mainline Steam Trust and the New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society bought the land which had been proposed for the village; the Society had been wound up, and its members had joined Silver Stream Rail.
The May 15, 1990 'Leader' reported on the society's first annual general meeting; former Heretaunga-Pinehaven councillor and company director Peter Duncan was elected president; Bryan Walker, vice-president. In addition to elected members, the executive committee would include representatives from the Hutt and Wellington city councils, Wellington Regional Council, Silverstream Railway Society, Bedplate press Printing Museum, Wellington Vintage Machinery, and Orongomai Marae. The society was negotiating for several class 'C' buildings threatened by a motorway extension.
The July 31, 1990 'Leader' printed a photo of a model of the proposed village, made by councillor Steven Wilson.
The June 25, 1991 issue printed a long letter from councillor Ralph Miller, who said that he had proposed the village at a District Council meeting in 1989, and that at the time, Peter Duncan had said the proposal had 'the ingredients for a disaster', yet he was now recommending that the Upper Hutt council support the project. An estimated rental for the land might be $11 000. He suggested that costs to ratepayers might be $146 900, and the society's costs $224 500. The council's policy committee had recommended a three-year lease at $11 000, an annual $22 500 grant, plus grants of $750 towards a planning application, and one to cover the first year's rental; a full council meeting was imminent. The same issue printed a picture of an updated model, exhibited at a hobbies and crafts exhibition.
The July 30 'Leader said the council had voted 8-5 to accept the recommendations; the alternative had been to allow Hutt Independent Boys' School to build on the land.
Building permits would not be issued until agencies involved confirmed their commitment to the project.
February 18, 1992; the trust had accepted the lease.
April 1992; new president, Keith Davis, a former Regional Council water services officer.
May 5, 1992; Peter McCardle turned the first sod, with a small backhoe.
December 7, 1992; in October the council had threatened to take legal action if a worker's cottage obtained fro the Historic Places Trust was not removed; it was now hoped that the land could be re-designated for a museum, and that the society would buy it. The former Jina's building and the former Silverstream fire station were waiting on adjacent Coles Myer land.
August 23, 1993; the land had a government value of $80 000, but the society argued that it was fill in parts, subject to flooding and had building limitations; an without a bridge over Hulls Creek was only partly accessible. The society was ready to make a cash offer once a value had been agreed between the council's and the society's valuers.
At the beginning of 1994, Hutt Independent Boys' School had moved from Silverstream to Trentham.
February 14, 1994; the society felt it had 'all but reached the end of the road', and planned to fold if the council turned down a $75 000 offer. They were also unhappy with a rent demand for 1993, as they had been unable to occupy the land, due to lease conditions.
February 28; the council had refused the society's offer; the Bedplate Printing Museum might have to move to Petone.
March 24; at the AGM, members voted against winding up.
April 18; full-page advertisement sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the Retailers Association, with their letters of support; the trust and Silver Stream Railway were seeking 'Friends of Kiwiana' and donations.
January 4, 1995; after Hutt International Boys' School moved to Trentham Racecourse, the former council building had been sold to Glen Tomlinson, a Blenheim rest home operator, at the end of 1994, for $365 000; he planned to convert it into a 40-bed rest home, and to add 13 self-contained villas.
August 23; a consortium which included Silver Stream Railway, Bedplate Printing Museum, Mainline Steam Trust and the New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society bought the land which had been proposed for the village; the Society had been wound up, and its members had joined Silver Stream Rail.
Photos
Details
Date established1989Date disestablishedlate 1994/early 1995LocationSilverstreamGeotag[1] Approximate centre of proposed village.FunctionPreservation and display of historic buildings, relocated to land north of Kiln Street, Silverstream. The land had been owned by the Heretaunga-Pinehaven District Community Council before it amalgamated with Upper Hutt, and former council buildings on the site were being used by Hutt Independent Boys' School.
It was hoped that a rail connection could be made through the village from the Wairarapa railway line to a shed of railway exhibits and the Silver Stream Railway Museum.
Date disestablishedlate 1994/early 1995LocationSilverstreamGeotag[1] Approximate centre of proposed village.FunctionPreservation and display of historic buildings, relocated to land north of Kiln Street, Silverstream. The land had been owned by the Heretaunga-Pinehaven District Community Council before it amalgamated with Upper Hutt, and former council buildings on the site were being used by Hutt Independent Boys' School.It was hoped that a rail connection could be made through the village from the Wairarapa railway line to a shed of railway exhibits and the Silver Stream Railway Museum.
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Historic Village and Heritage Park Society. Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 18/03/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/25683