Memorial Square Community Rooms (formerly known as the ‘Women’s Rest’)
Rendering of the restored (former) Women’s Rest, Gavin Cooper Architect
The Art Deco Trust and Napier City Council are collaborating on a significant restoration initiative that aims to rejuvenate and appropriately repurpose the Category 1 heritage building known as the Memorial Square Community Rooms, Napier, (formerly known as the “Women’s Rest”), into a vibrant community facility.
Brief overview of the Restoration Project:
Created by MediaMint, archival images from the collection of Hawke’s Bay Museums Trust, Ruawharo Tā-ū-rangi
Click here to support the project.
A brief history of the (former) Women’s Rest …
Collection of Hawke’s Bay Museums Trust, Ruawharo Tā-ū-rangi, [7866]
Designed in 1924 by esteemed Napier architect James Augustus ‘Louis’ Hay in the Prairie Style and heavily influenced by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the building served as a sanctuary for Napier’s women, mothers, and children at a time when there were no public toilets or facilities for women in the town.
The facility was conceived as a utilitarian war memorial and companion to the city’s Cenotaph and was formally opened to the public on Anzac Day, 25 April 1926, at which time the reserve was renamed ‘Memorial Square’.
This Category 1 historic place holds special historical significance as a highly unusual utilitarian First World War memorial, alongside the purely monumental Cenotaph.
Collection of Hawke’s Bay Museums Trust, Ruawharo Tā-ū-rangi, [7256m]
In the wake of the devastating 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake, speedy repairs allowed the Women’s Rest to serve as the heart of Tin Town, effectively New Zealand’s first shopping mall.
Collection of Hawke’s Bay Museums Trust, Ruawharo Tā-ū-rangi, [3278]
Over the years the building has hosted various groups, including the Merchant Navy Club, a ballet studio, and the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, before its closure in 2013 due to seismic concerns.
The Art Deco Trust is leading the restoration of this building with the generous support from donors and supporters.
The goal is to restore the integrity of Louis Hay’s original Art Deco-era design and allow the building to once again serve as the Memorial Square Community Rooms, a community facility, and the home of the Art Deco Trust.
Rendering of the restored (former) Women’s Rest, Gavin Cooper Architect
Thank you!
The restoration of Napier’s Memorial Square Community Rooms, formerly known as the Women’s Rest is being undertaken by Art Deco Trust in partnership with Napier City Council.
The project has been generously supported by:
Napier City Council
Lottery Grants Board Environment and Heritage Fund
Lottery Grants Board Community Facilities Fund
Earnshaw Holdings Ltd
With additional support from:
Bernard Chambers Charitable Trust
Napier Building Society Charitable Trust
Angus McGregor and Nathan Akhavan-Moossavi
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the following individuals and organisations:
Gavin Cooper Architect
Ann Galloway Heritage Architect
Halcyon Project Management
Alexander Construction
Almak
MCC Cost Consulting
Media Mint
Mitchell Daysh
Moth Light
Panton Consulting
Resene Paint NZ
Smart Fire
Structural Concepts
Wallace Development Company
Thank you to our seat naming donors
Never stop learning. Find your way. John Akers
Gifted by Barbara and David Arnott
In memory of Pat Benson
Bramwell Bate Lawyers
In memory of Clifton Lee Black
Charles Chaplin
In memory of late Roy Clement
Simon and Bridget Dunn
Gifted by Richard Earwaker & Margot Minett Earwaker
Gifted by Sue Fullarton, Guide and Life Member
Gannet Safaris Overland
Hamstur Trust
Gifted by Craig and Penny Hickson and family
Gifted by Alan and Margaret Husheer
Gifted by Linda Johnston a Chicago Honorary Kiwi
Langley Twigg Law
For David Low; Dapper Gentleman & Life-member
David and Jane Mackersey
Janine McCutcheon gifted in memory of Betty Gray
On behalf of the McClurg and Horrocks families
Gifted by Cindy and Larry Morgan
Bob and Alison Morrison
In memory of Geoff Myles
Katie Nimon MP
Leigh and Trish Patterson
Gifted by Shona Porter
Elizabeth Pishief
Nick and Jenny Stewart
In memory of visits from Wairoa by Wendy Stothers
Alastair and Helen Thompson
Gifted by Kevin and Bev Thomsen
Jill Verschaffelt
Support the restoration project.
Consider donating and naming one (or more) of the new chairs at the restored Memorial Square Community Rooms and be there all when you’re not.
We are looking for support from the community – individuals, families, community groups and companies – to help us create a community space for everyone to enjoy.
Only 120 chairs available, one or more could be yours.
For a donation of $500 each; name a chair or multiple chairs and help us bring the project life.
Each chair can be named as gifted by you, your family, a family friend, your company or organisation.
Your donation is 100% tax deductible.
If you wish to pay via credit card, please complete the form below, submit, then complete payment page.
If you wish to pay via bank transfer, please complete the form and press ‘submit’.
Please ignore the following payment page – press the back button or ‘cancel transaction’ to return to the Trust website. The form will be sent.
Ignore any error message.
Please don’t forget to make your payment via bank transfer.
Our account details are:
Account name: ART DECO TRUST
Account number: 12-3144-0079110-00
International swift code: ASBBNZ2A
We will match your donation to the details you submit on the form and send you a receipt for your donation.
Thank you for your support.
39 seats named; 81 seats left to be named!
Name a chair and be there when you’re not!
NOTES:
If paying via credit card, please complete the form, press ‘submit’, then complete payment page.
If paying via bank transfer, please complete the form and press ‘submit’. At the payment page – press the back button or ‘cancel transaction’ to return to the Trust website. The form will be sent. Please ignore any error message.
Please don’t forget to make your payment via bank transfer.
Our account details are:
Account name: ART DECO TRUST
Account number: 12-3144-0079110-00
International swift code: ASBBNZ2A
We will match your donation to the details you submit on the form and send you a receipt for donation.
Thank you for your support.
For more details about this restoration project and how to you can become involved, by donating to the project or in-kind support, please contact:
Jeremy Smith
Heritage Manager / GM
Art Deco Trust
06 835 0022 x5
hm@artdeconapier.com
Please click here to make a donation in support of the restoration project
For more detail about the significance of the Napier (former) Women’s Rest, visit: