Five years worth of restoration work is aiming to ensure the historical hub of a rural South Canterbury community continues to stand strong.
Built in the early-1880s and designed by Flemish architect Maurice de Harven Duval, the Sutherlands Community Hall has been the subject of an ongoing restoration project.
Built originally as the Sutherlands School building, it was funded at the time by the local community which loaned £300 to the school board to have it erected.
The school closed in 1938, and since then the building has served as a public hall and is frequently used for meetings, holiday and social functions and community events.
Hall committee member Paul Ryan said touch-up and restoration work began about five years ago and so far the hall had been repainted, re-roofed and fitted with a new kitchen.
‘‘We started with the re-roofing, then did the re-painting and then the renovating inside which has just been done in the last 12 months.
‘‘Next thing is probably tidying up the floor, possibly the toilets and just a general bit of overhauling.’’
He said they had quite the surprise when they uncovered an ornate wooden ventilation register after removing the hardboard ceiling while renovating the main room of the hall.
‘‘It’s one solid piece of timber, probably an inch and a half thick and it’s got sort of like a swastikaish design. It would have been put up in the late 1800s and it was used for ventilation.
‘‘We wonder what inspired that design, that’s the interesting thing, it’s pretty unique. No-one had any idea it was behind the hardboard, it was a real surprise.’’
Hall committee member Jenny Ryan said in recent months, they had also been able to display a special donation they had received in the form of the old Sutherlands School flag.
The story they were told was it had been taken by a former a pupil as an act of revenge after getting in trouble with the principal.
Mrs Ryan said after consulting with the South Canterbury Museum on the best way to display and preserve the at least 80-year-old flag, a special table was built by local joiner Dave Carter to house it.
‘‘We wanted the table to be used as well, so it’s all purpose-built and people can use it without being scared to put anything on it.
‘‘It’s been built to be insect proof but also ventilated which you need for old fabrics. Supposedly it’s better off kept flat as opposed to hanging on the wall.
‘‘We were keen to look after it because how many old schools have their flag? We feel very lucky and privileged to have the school flag back home.’’
Mrs Ryan said while there was a lot they still did not know about the building it was important to look after it and keep it in a usable condition.
‘‘People want to come and use it rather than to just have it sitting empty and gradually deteriorating.
‘‘Now that it’s done up, we’re hoping that it will get a bit more use. Being mindful of the fact that it’s way out of town but that’s all right, that’s part of its charm.
‘‘We’ve had some great nights in here, and we’re always trying to get people involved. I suppose for the future we just want the hall to be maintained, looked after and used.’’
