Book Reviews

Some Sober Advice On The

Need To Preserve History

At the request of the Australian Council of National Trusts, a Historic Buildings Committee was set up a couple of years ago to report on Norfolk Island’s historic buildings.

The committee consisted of Cedric Flower, David Saunders, Richard Young, Philip Cox and John Morris.

They were all familiar with the island’s architecture and restoration problems, but David Saunders and Philip Cox were especially so. For David Saunders was the architect responsible for the restoration of No. 9 Quality Row and Philip Cox and Associates carried out restoration on Nos. 5 and 8 Quality Row. Last year Philip Cox published Building Nor folk Island (reviewed PIM, Dec., 1971).

The committee’s report The Historic Buildings of Norfolk Island —Their Restoration, Preservation and Maintenance , a 63-page study of the subject from all angles, has now been published by the Australian Council of National Trusts.

It is the most comprehensive and best-documented work on Norfolk’s historic structures to date. It contains detailed information on every convict era building and nearly every ruin on the island, and includes a chapter on the remaining Melanesian Mission buildings and one on the picturesque homes built by the Pitcairners. There are two important appendices and a short bibliography.

The report contains more than 60 black and white photographs (some are rather small, but all are distinct), two maps, and reproductions of two early Norfolk paintings and two architectural plans dating from the second convict settlement. Nothing seems lacking except an index; an omission that could be remedied in a second edition.

In simple and direct language the problems of restoration are explained, and followed by practical suggestions for their solution. The “Notes on Restoration” cover every phase of the

work from the foundations to the roofs and include the landscaping of courtyards and siting of garages.

Restoration of the island’s convict era buildings has been going on since 1962 with the aid of annual Common wealth Government grants. Last year a special grant of $lOO,OOO was made for the restoration of the Officers’ Quarters at Kingston, which were gutted by fire in 1970. As the report emphasises the outstanding historical and architectural importance of Norfolk’s buildings it is just

possible that the annual contributions from the Commonwealth will be in creased in the future.

The committee’s research into early plans and manuscripts has yielded all sorts of fascinating details about the buildings, and, incidentally, has thrown fresh light on the purpose of a couple of structures. The arcaded ruin at Longridge, traditionally known as The Stables, turns out to be the remains of a prisoners’ barracks, and the Officers’ Bath at Kingston was probably not used for bathing at all,

The Trust report re veals that the struc ture at right, for long known as The Stables, is in fact the remains of prisoners' barracks at Long ridge. Above, the St.

Barnabas' Church of the Melanesian Mis sion is another historic building dis cussed in the report.

but as a place for drawing water.

Appendix A is devoted to the re development, by Travelodge, of the old Paradise Hotel into a 120-room establishment. And the report doesn’t mince matters.

It calls the Paradise Hotel “the greatest intrusion into the historic environment of Kingston”, and goes on to say “ideally, it should go”. But as the Paradise Hotel has been pur chased by Travelodge and the damage has been done, conditions for a covenant and guides for the Norfolk Island Administration in supervising the reconstruction and redevelopment of this hotel are set out quite plainly.

They will make sober reading for those concerned with the project, but will have the approval of preser vationists on the island and elsewhere.

For not everyone is enthusiastic about the Crown lease for the land occupied by the Paradise Hotel being trans ferred to Travelodge. Moreover, the Paradise lease had only 16 years to

run before il expired, but on the J rans^ r t 0 Travelodge it was renewed for 50 years ’

Appendix B deals with the Lions’

Club, also at Kingston, which has been renovated in a modern style and is a bit of an eyesore at present, Fortunately the Lions, in conjunction with tbe Norfolk Island Administration, are already planning to bring their building into harmony with the rest . of the Kingston complex. And, unlike Travelodge, they have only a 10 year lease.

The Australian Council of National Trusts has performed a considerable

service in focussing attention on Norfolk’s convict-era and late-19th centufy buildm 8 s b Y publishing this report.

It should be read by everyone with an interest in the island’s past, pre sent or future. And Appendix A, in particular, should be required reading for members of the Norfolk Island Council, some of whom, at times, appear to have skipped their home work.—Merval Home. (the historic buildings of Norfolk island. Report of Australian

the”^council," at i°2T I maren%°¥t. Sidney!

$1.95, or $2/20 posted).

The old officers' quarters at Kingston is to be restored with a special grant of $100,000. It was gutted by fire in 1970.