Restoration projects on Rangitoto Island.
 Update
on Restoration of Bach 38 to 18th November 2003 from Allan
Godsall and other interesting developments and dates to
note
Special thanks to Peter Woolnough for his donation of a
shovel and rake and to the member who donated the contractors'
wheelbarrow, which will be extremely useful.
Thanks also to Matthew Alley for his week of work on constructing
the tank stand and doing the weatherboards all around the
house. It is not until you get into the job you realise
all the extras needed to done. With the weatherboards off
we found we needed to spray inside the wall with 'Metalex',
make up some new wall studs and all that. We had to remove
the lounge window as the sill fell apart when it was opened.
That has since been repaired and reinstalled.
Again thanks to Peter for the two days he has put into
flaring the bay windows, one more day and they will be finished
for his goal of doing them before Xmas.
The flashings have been delivered to finish the water tanks
and that was completed last week. The water tanks now stand
proudly on top, when full they will hold 4 ton of water!
The tank stand has been specially constructed to look like
the old one on the outside but strengthened on the inside
to take the weight.
The flooring was also delivered and last weekend the middle
bedroom floor was replaced with new timber of the same width
and we used recycled timber to replace a rotten (actually
chewed out totally by borer) section in the kitchen. Such
is what you find when you lift lino. Unfortunately borer
also likes old newspaper and very little of what was under
the lino was in good order but a framed collage will be
made of the more interesting pieces.
The final colour of paint is now on several walls and is
looking the part. The front doors have been measured and
are currently being made.
Next the plumbing will be done to fit gutters and downpipes
to the watertanks and from there to the sink inside and
the grey waste removed. That only leaves at least 24 other
things to do!! Oh I hear you say we need to stop for the
fishing contest so there will be no painting around the
windows on that day!!!
Still needed if you have these spare: Leaf rakes, spades,
shovels, yard brooms and another contractors type wheelbarrow.
For inside we are looking for mattresses and bedding, a
small bookshelf and anyone who has an old Tilly lamp the
500 model to use as spares.
We
recently purchased a 6kVa second hand/basically new generator
so that we can run power equipment and lighting, in fact
just about anything which will make working bees and celebrations
that much easier.
The last big working bee of the year has been held and there
will be a well-earned break over the Xmas New Year period.
Allan has set the 2004 working bee dates, which are usually
the 3rd Saturday/weekend of each month and are listed below.
Please put them in your diary
January 17th - February 21st - March 20th - April 17th -
May 15th - June 19th - July 17th - August 21st - September
18th - October 16th - November 20th.
It is nearly always the same people who come to the working
bees, please if you haven't come before try to make at least
one next year, it is a lot of fun, not hard work - you only
do what you can - and it will make big difference to the
project. Shirley has been keeping figures on the umber of
volunteers that come, how many hours they put in and the
amount of donated material. It makes very interesting reading.
Next year we start restoration of bach 114 (pictured at
right) at Islington Bay, so keep a lookout in the newsletters
for dates. We also will be starting a weeding and pest removal
programme to help DoC particularly in the Islington Bay/Gardiner
Gap area.
For those who are interested in getting to Islington Bay
either to a bach, working bee, Motutapu etc, the possibility
exists to join the Motutapu Restoration Trust volunteers
when they have their propagation days. They need at least
20 people on the Fuller s ferry, so that after leaving Rangitoto
wharf it will go on to Islington Bay. These trips are usually
alternate Sundays throughout summer, the next ones being
23rd November 7th and 14th December, with January to be
announced. For further details and to give the Trust an
idea of numbers ring Belinda Vernon on 522 0919 or 021 570
845.
Allan Godsall has the timetable for the DoC boat Hauturu
for 2004, when it will be visiting Rangitoto Wharf and Islington
bay. If you have any material to be donated please ring
Allan so that he can coordinate delivery to Devonport with
a sailing day and make sure there is some one at the other
end to help get it off Hauturu.
 Re
-Roofing Bach 38 - Rangitoto Wharf
Working Bee - January 26th 2002
Wasn't it great seeing everyone working together at the
working bee on Saturday January 26th? Wasn't it just like
reliving the community spirit of days gone by? Everyone
who was able to be there, did whatever his or her abilities
dictated. Those who had the knowledge and skills and/or
head for heights were up on the roof, ably assisted by those
on the ground readying the "Coloursteel" by cutting
and priming it. Over at Collins' bach the ladies working
there were kept on the go by a continuous round of making
refreshments and then washing up after the hungry hordes
had vanished.
We can't show too much appreciation to those who did the
'dirty work' and to those who kept them fed and watered.
I can't speak in any great detail about the actual roofing
teams (apart from the fact that there seemed to be a lot
of talk going on), but I know the amount of work that went
into the refreshments. Shirley Collins kept the fire going
on a hot day to make the tea and wash the dishes, only to
sit down for a rest, looked at her watch, and realised that
she only had ½ hour before it was time to start on
the next round. Lenny Sullivan and others spent hours making
sandwiches and scones and muffins (loved the lemon ones).
 Perhaps
this effort is made even more special by the fact that every
item of food has to be carried down to Rangitoto. And we
can't forget the fact that many of those who supplied perishables,
such as butter and milk, don't have adequate or, in some
cases, any refrigeration. Once again it's a reminder of
the community spirit of yore. In fact in some ways we had
it easier in days gone by, when we had the shop and the
boats had a more convenient timetable. Remember when on
a Wednesday, there was enough time between boats to go to
Auckland, do your shopping, catch a movie and then head
back 'home' to Rangi for the night? I don't, but I'm reliably
informed that it did happen.
So, to everyone who got stuck in at the working bee, give
yourselves a pat on the back, for a job well done. Roll
on the next cyclone.
Sereena Burton
"Whare Taare" bach
 Update
on Restoration of Bach 38 by Allan Godsall - May 2004
We have finished all the weatherboards; all of the surfeit;
roof; corner boxings and our workshop. Inside we have replaced
the middle bedroom flooring and parts of the kitchen flooring
as well; punched and filled. Kitchen and front porch have
had there ceilings repaired. All wiring has been replaced
for 12 volt lighting throughout. The water tank stand is
completed with the 2 X 1639 litre tanks full of water and
supplying our kitchen. We have yet to install our new front
doors but that's not too far away . Once this has been done
then we only need to paint the exterior to complete the
outside. A start has been made on replacing window hinges
so they can be opened with safety. We are also sanding and
filling window facings and cabinetry ready for shellacking.
We need to paint both the kitchen and 3rd bedroom; The lounge
and other 2 bedroom ceilings all need to be scraped; sanded
and painted. All the ceiling battens need varnishing as
well. We will have to build a step in front of the front
step for occupational health safety reasons. Its quite a
high step and when you step down you are inclined to slip
underfoot. It may even require a safety rail like what we
have at the back door steps. We have now received some pieces
of carpet which we can use as walkways around our lino as
protection requested by our Auckland Historic Conservation
Specialists. We also have on hand material to make new curtains
for all the rooms. Last remaining areas to be done will
be the rebuilding of the shower and toilet area. THEN, It's
off to work on Bach 114 but before this our heritage builder;
architect and advisers will have to go and assess our requirements
and costings. We will also check on Bach 80 and install
a water supply so we can use as accommodation while Bach
114 is worked on.; This will be a golden opportunity for
our other workers to experience the night life on the island
like we do. It's also give a period where they can meet
with the locals and socialize. This work period is over
the weekend as boat leaves Auckland 7. PM Friday night and
returns 5 PM Sunday afternoon.
 Since
our last annual report we have completed the removal
of rotten weatherboards, the replacement of rotten framing
sections. We have completed the Bay window roof and corner
boxing. Lyn & Arnold have completed the installation
of the spouting. We’ve completed the tank stand. Installed
both water tanks and fittings. Connected the water supply
from tank to kitchen tap. A waste water & overflow drain
system has also been completed. Peter has finished the surfeit.
John has re-wired the Bach and tested the electrical lamp
fittings. John has also made and installed a new substation.
The chimney has been checked and passed safe for fires.
The middle bedroom's floor has been replaced and floor joist
sprayed with metalex. Sections of the kitchen flooring has
also been replaced and treated as well with metalex. Ceiling
parts in kitchen and front porch have been replaced. Lounge
window has been removed and rebuilt and reinstalled. A start
has been made on replacing the window hinges. Patching the
ceiling in 3rd bedroom and a start has been made to sanding
and priming the kitchen.
Maintenance Report September 2004 Now we are nearing
the completion on Bach 38 our home, workshop, and on-island
office. The toilet block will be completed in September,
the solar power is just waiting for Able Solar people to
install later this month. John our electrician with his
gofa Jim have completed all the power connections and tested
so no trouble there. We need to complete waste water system
which should be well on its way by the 18th Sept. The last
part of the safety rail should be completed on 18th Sept.
Once this is completed then the bach will be occupiable.
We still have smaller jobs to do like, fitting back the
safe in the kitchen. The rebuilt kitchen window and the
replacement of the sink bench. This will necessitate a slight
alteration to our plumbing. We will make a new step in the
front of the existing step to make it an easy step down
After all this has been done we only have to complete the
painting inside and out and finish up with a woman's touch.
There may be items required once we are finished so if you
think of any let someone know.
We are now looking at a start on Bach 114 so on 18th September
we will do a scoping tour measure up for materials and get
prices etc so you can say we will officially make a start
as of Sept 18th.
 Maintenance
Report October 2004 Special thanks to all our volunteers
who have pushed the restoration of Bach 38 through the winter
months which has kept us in front of the 8 ball. Again thanks
to Matthew for his input, sponsorship, scrounging and work.
What a lot of people don't know is that he shifts house
every time he comes down. He brings his large hand truck
with 2 big toolboxes as well as 1 large box of Drills and
the guns usually, 2 air operated guns large tool bag with
saws, levels and compound mitre saws then all his bedding
etc and if that's not enough some lengths of timber or something
else he's thought we will need to complete a job. So Matthew
a very big thank you.
We are now nearing the completion to the restoration of
Bach 38. As it stands now the Bach is occupiable. Power
is on and going. Water working etc. It's just those little
finishing touches like re-puttying some windows, Painting
some windows, painting around the window flashings and the
sills. Re-fitting the kitchen window in properly, the sink
bench and plumbing and a new front step. The outside of
the building needs to be sanded in places were we have used
filler and primed all this before 25th November when Nestlé's
NZ are sending down 12 people to paint the whole place.
Thanks to all who came down to Islington Bay on the 18th
September with all the people from YHA for clearing the
section and measuring for the required materials we will
need. Since then I have collated what you have said adding
up all the sides and sourcing the best prices for it. It
doesn't seem much but when you can save $1000 plus just
on the cost of timber alone it makes it all worth while.
 December
2004 The Rangitoto Island Historic Conservation Trust
thanks you all for the special efforts you have made in
assisting with the repairs to Bach 38 this year. As you
know we as so close to its completion that we have accessed
Bach 114 which we will make a start on in the new year.
As most of you know, with Bach 114 we will have to stay
nights so we will be staying at Bach 80 for this. There
will be a need for you to bring a sleeping bag and your
meals. We will be trying to get DoC to do a shuttle run
there and back some weekends but as they don't work weekends
we will have to grovel like you've never scene before.
Special thanks goes to Kirsty for her crew at the YHA for
helping with assessing Bach 114 and measuring its requirements.
Also special thanks to Joanne and Alana at Nestlés
for their help to finish the painting of Bach 38. To all
you regular workers special thanks for your continued support
and I look forward to seeing you all next year
Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Best of luck to all in the fishing contest
Allan
Official Opening of Bach 38 took place on Saturday
16th April 2005 >>> More
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