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Post by Dave Homewood on May 5, 2014 1:50:34 GMT 12
I have just seen a photo on Facebook taken this week of the Headquarters Building at former RNZAF Base Hobsonville,in an advanced state of being demolished. This is a shock as I was led to believe that building was to stay and would become a community centre and have base history and heritage displayed within it.
It really rips my kilt to see historic buildings destroyed by developers, especially RNZAF heritage buildings.
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Post by pjw4118 on May 5, 2014 18:11:12 GMT 12
That is a shock Dave , as the developers promoted the idea of it becoming a local history / library building.
I will check tomorrow.
Jon Pote also tells me that the original pre war de Havilland assembly hangar has also gone . It was very sound and a perhaps valuable addition to MOTATs limited hangar space.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 5, 2014 20:04:30 GMT 12
Was that the hangar that became the Gym?
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Post by beagle on May 5, 2014 20:05:25 GMT 12
which building are you talking about there
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Post by McFly on May 5, 2014 20:24:18 GMT 12
which building are you talking about there This one Beags (opposite the Hobsonville Memorial and Flagpole).     (Photos Alan Willoughby) The 'Memorial' opposite.   |
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Post by beagle on May 5, 2014 21:39:10 GMT 12
I know that building has now gone, but the pre war assembly hangar. are we talking the old gym
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Post by pjw4118 on May 6, 2014 15:14:00 GMT 12
I have just paid a visit and the HQ building remains. I called at the developers office and they confirmed that there is no plan to knock it down.
Both the HQ building and Sunderland Lounge have been transferred to Auckland City Council to be used by the Hobsonville community.
I am told that the Hobbie Old Boys intend to put a display into the HQ.
What was demolished was the building behind ( armoury ?} and that area is being grassed for a park
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 6, 2014 18:07:37 GMT 12
Oh... well that is fortunate. The photo on Facebook was mislabelled.
So what was the other building you mentioned Peter? The "pre war de Havilland assembly hangar"? Was they the gym?
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Post by pjw4118 on May 6, 2014 18:12:08 GMT 12
It was where the Market has been held for the past two years , in front of the security comms unit.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 6, 2014 18:47:16 GMT 12
Sorry mate, I am still none the wiser. Can you give a street address so I can look on Google Earth please? They still have old satellite photos of the base on there.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 6, 2014 18:49:11 GMT 12
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Post by corsairarm on May 7, 2014 17:25:22 GMT 12
The Market was held in the building about 50m from the Catalina Cafe on the main road in.
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Post by pjw4118 on May 8, 2014 11:23:19 GMT 12
The hangar is bounded by Buckley Av, Hastings Cres and Hudson Bay road
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 8, 2014 18:12:39 GMT 12
I cannot recall with any certainty, but that building may have been Camp Pack Up, or some other Supply building, back in the day, wasn't it?
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Post by pjw4118 on Apr 3, 2015 10:20:41 GMT 12
Well some of the history is certainly about to go. Photos taken today  Looking down the old runway   The two concrete hangars  Barrack blocks to be apartments  Places still look like an Air Force Station   No 3 Squadron Hangar about to go  The new Hobbie. Four stories, and traffic lights in the middle of the airfield |
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Post by davidd on Apr 5, 2015 9:43:42 GMT 12
That "De Havilland" assembly hangar would have to be the original F Douglas Mill hangar - he was the sole DH agent for all of NZ until the parent DH company set up a NZ subsidiary, with intention of taking over all sales and support for DH types as well as setting up the factory at Rongotai for manufacture of Tiger Moths for the NZ Govt as well as Moth Minors, although of course the latter plan came to nothing. All late production of DH 94s took place in Australia (ditto for DH 84s), while Canadian subsidiary restarted DH 83 production postwar.
David D
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Post by davidd on Apr 5, 2015 9:46:36 GMT 12
Looks as though the 3 Squadron hangar is being carefully dismantled, so does this mean it will have a second life somewhere?
Dave D
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Post by lesterpk on Apr 5, 2015 13:10:29 GMT 12
Yeah, as floorboards.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 14, 2015 18:19:39 GMT 12
Such a shame to see that big hangar being dismantled. Not only was it No. 3 Squadron's helicopter hangar for decades but its history goes back a lot further. it first occupants were the Baffins and Vincents of the Auckland (Territorial) Squadron in 1938/9, which when war began became known as the Auckland (General Reconnaissance) Squadron. It was therefore the seat of NZ's foremost defence against invasion and attack for the first six months of WWII.
And that four storey complex is just hideous!!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 14, 2015 18:21:21 GMT 12
For real? What sort of timber did they make these hangars from? it would be pretty hard wood now. |
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