Recently, trustees and staff visited the Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa. The Rotorua Trust has long supported the Rotorua Museum.
The iconic building is a significant cultural and historical landmark for our community and Aotearoa. Unfortunately, in 2016, the building sustained damage from the Kaikōura earthquake, which led to its closure. Currently, the Bath House is undergoing extensive strengthening and redevelopment. Workers are carefully removing layers to restore its heritage features, ensuring a safe and modern experience for future generations.
Here are some interesting facts about the project:
- Original newspapers from 1906 are visible inside the walls being restored.
- A total of 44,000 iconic terracotta orange Marseille roof tiles are being laid.
- The scaffolding itself is a remarkable feature, spanning many kilometres!
- The Bath House building was constructed between 1906 and 1908. Its architecture is predominantly Elizabethan, with initial designs by Wohlmann featuring influences from Edwardian, Jacobean, and Tudor styles. Local elements, such as native timber and verandahs, were also incorporated to allow people to appreciate the area’s natural beauty.
