Hokitika Carnegie Building
Philanthropy and community spirit. Its story, intertwined with the legacy of Scottish-American industrialist Andrew Carnegie, is a journey of education, resilience, and cultural preservation.
From riches to rags and back again.
In 1903, Hokitika Mayor H. L. Michel penned a letter to Carnegie requesting a grant for a public library. Carnegie, a firm believer in the transformative power of knowledge, readily agreed, donating £2,000 for construction and £500 for furnishings. This, coupled with contributions from the Hokitika Savings Bank and the architectural expertise of A.R. Griffen, set the stage for the building’s construction in 1906.
Completed in 1908, the Carnegie Library, as it was initially known, was hailed as an “architectural ornament to the town” and “the finest building architecturally on the West Coast.” Its grand design, featuring five well-lit rooms and decorative metal ceilings, embodied Carnegie’s vision of democratising access to knowledge.
However, the building’s journey was challenging. The West Coast’s heavy rainfall necessitated replacing the original slate roof with corrugated iron, and earthquake safety concerns led to the removal of decorative elements in the 1950s. By the late 1980s, the building faced disrepair and the possibility of demolition.
But the spirit of Hokitika pulled through. Heritage Hokitika spearheaded a restoration effort, garnering public support and securing funding. In 1998, the building reopened, not as a library, but as a cultural hub housing the Carnegie Gallery, an information centre, and an entrance to the adjacent museum.
The story continues, though. In 2016, the building was deemed earthquake-prone, leading to its temporary closure. However, the building underwent significant structural upgrades through the dedication of the Westland District Council and Destination Westland.
The Carnegie Building now stands as an eye catching structure that represents Hokitika’s commitment to cultural preservation with a purpose.
Address
District Westland
Street address 17 Hamilton Street
Town Hokitika
Postcode 7842