Once again we had decided on planting just one cache by the
main attraction,but on walking thru the park, we found so many
other interesting trees & scenes we decided to take it by the
throat & drag you up hill & down dale to the ends of the
park !
HISTORY OF THE PUMPHOUSE---
FROM WATERWORKS
Two pumphouses were built to supply Lake Pupuke water - initially
to Devonport but later to most of the North Shore.
The first was built in 1894 and was partially demolished in
1931.
The second was completed in October 1905 at a cost of £3287; The
system was first operational on 4th November 1905 It was however
not officially opened until March 1906; This is the building known
today as The PumpHouse, and today it functions as a theatre and
gallery and is administered by the North Shore Theatre and Arts
Trust.
The construction of both buildings involved pioneer North Shore
industrialists 'their names are familiar' the bricks were
manufactured by Duders Bros brickworks on the north-eastern side of
Ngataringa Bay on a site now occupied by navy housing.
The timber was from Bonds Sawmill - just inside the main gates
of HMNZS Philomel.
The contractors were Mays and Gordon from Devonport, and the
engineer in charge was Henry Metcalfe, also from Devonport; Mr
James Mays was the clerk of works and responsible for coordinating
each contractor.
The pumping plant comprised 2 boilers and 2 pumps; The main pump
was capable of pumping 100,000 gallons of water through 4 miles of
pipes in 8 hours to the reservoir on Mt Victoira, while the
ancilliary pump could lift 7000 gallons an hour; The reservoir
could be filled in 22 hours, with 2 tons of coal being burnt.
The pumphouse was described as being - plain brick, 74 feet by
38 feet, comprising a boiler room engine room, coal store, all
under one roof, with a brick chimney 80 feet high on a concrete
base, and lit throughout with electric light?.
The other building on site, the Green Shed was used to house the
electric pumps that pumped the supply after 1927.
Both buildings became unused in 1944 when water quality and
quantity deteriorated and a new supply was sourced from the
Waitakeres; A comment from historical material reads as follows:
"hardly 10 years passed before the level of the lake began to fall;
the more rapid the rise in polulation, the faster the lake level
fall; and the more curious the flavour and even the texture of the
liquid that came darkly from our taps; The story of protozoa in the
kitchen sink was replaced by one about eels in the bath, and in
1944 few regretted the changeover to the Auckland supply".
The pumphouse as a water-pumping station was now redundant.
TO THEATRE AND GALLERY COMPLEX
The pumphouse and the green shed then fell into disrepair and
were essentially used as storage for the North Shore Rowing Club.
Tucked away out of sight and largely out of mind, the pumphouse
attracted few visitors ? rowers, adventuring children, artists ?
few others bothered.
The pumphouse building and the Green Shed then lay derelict and
in danger of demolition until the 1960?s when the Council of the
day wanted to demolish it to make way for gardens. The casting vote
of Takapuna Mayor, Mr Fred Thomas, saved the building from this
fate and from 1968 to 1971 a steering committee was formed to
consider how the building could be converted to a Theatre - at
times against considerable opposition.
With support from amateur dramatic groups and many North Shore
residents the North Shore Theatre and Arts Trust was formed and
incorporated in 1971 and the task of raising money and planning the
restoration work began.
The Theatre was opened in 1977 and with later additions has
become the vibrant Theatre and Gallery complex it is today.
The group who saw the potential for the building to be
transformed as a theatre were not the only one to see a use for the
historic site, and they had to compete with many others. However
with the incorporation of the Trust in 1971 the task of raising
money and planning the renovations began.
One of the more daunting tasks was bringing the building up to
earthquake standard - particularly the chimney; While there was
some talk of having this demolished, the engineers on the Trust
fought long and hard, and with steel reinforcing around the
outside, and concrete inside, it was bought up to standard.
The pumphouse building itself, although with sound brickwork,
had deteriorated with 30 years of neglect and all the fittings,
doors, windows etc had gone. The inside surfaces told their story
of having been used to house a coal-fired steam engine. Plans for a
raked auditorium, stage, a backstage room above the old coal
bunker, and the green room were made and begun. The lovely
round-top windows and doors were preserved and the new extensions
carefully matched.
The first production was onstage in 1977.
The success of The PumpHouse has led to its daily use as a
Theatre and Gallery. The complex is predominantly operated as a
venue for hire and is significantly self-funded, with some support
from the North Shore City Council.
The PumpHouse is administered by the North Shore Theatre and
Arts Trust Board, elected annually from Trust members. A Director
employed by the Trust is responsible for the management of The
PumpHouse and its activities.
NOW, TO THE CACHES---
1/ find the start point---on ramp walkway
(Co-ordinates above) & get the co-ordinates for the second
waypoint.
2/On a big tree-- dont run into.
3/Another big tree with easy micro cache find,could be
camoed,you know me.
4/We are looking for an example of Moses & the burning
bush type of tree,maybe the local fire brigade (building to the
left) made an example of it or practiced their skills on
it,hopefully the tree felt rather put out,(ahem!)
Another micro--berrocca tin, to find here.Actual hide is offset by
12 paces 130 deg magnetic.
5/Coming to a dog leg in the course we find an example of
that in tree form as well, with the micro used here as
well.
6/ Magnetic micro at the place with the best views at the
park,I think.
7/Another mag micro.Nuff said,& were almost there,did you
bring your togs for the next port of call?
8/ Look for the co-ordinates for the cache,(S36 47.000 E174
46.000) the last 3 digits for the main cache is inscribed
here.
FINAL CACHE---take a look to see if you are up to this
one,you may need the support of someone else (Kay did it alright)
Hope you had as much fun as we did compiling this event---Glyn
& Kay (not our real names)
CACHE CONTAINS---Usual items of treasure & log book
etc.