Council awards $150,000 in grants to support historic places
Published on 06 June 2025
Whanganui District Council’s Heritage Grant Fund allocated $150,000 in the last year to support 13 projects that will help maintain and restore the district's important historic buildings and sites.
The Heritage Grant Fund supports external works that enhance heritage items listed in the District Plan, or those with significant community value. It primarily funds preservation work, and professional advice (such as seismic or fire design work) is also within scope for building owners. This year, the fund helped make more than $384,000 worth of heritage enhancement work possible.
“With the community's growing interest in making the most of our historic district’s heritage, these grants make it more achievable for building owners to futureproof Whanganui’s unique identity,” says Scott Flutey, Whanganui District Council heritage planner.
Applications were received across two rounds – one from July to October 2024 and another from November 2024 to March 2025.
Find more information about the fund here
Successful recipients in 2024-2025 are:
Round one recipients
Whanganui Heritage Restoration Trust, 11 Rutland Street (former Native Land Court)
A grant of $20,580 was awarded for architectural and engineering design work toward the building’s roof as part of a staged seismic and restoration upgrade to enable adaptive reuse.
92 Guyton Street
This late 19th-century building received $9,000 for a detailed seismic assessment and upgrade design. Its prominent location at the edge of Corwen Park adds to its streetscape significance.
96 Guyton Street
A further $6,000 was granted for similar professional advice work on this 1920s building, also bordering Corwen Park.
15 Putiki Drive (Braeburn)
An 80% grant of $2,316 supported the reinstatement of original-style metal balcony railings, guided by 1920s photographs and building evidence.
Bushy Park Homestead and Stables
The trust received $11,415.20 toward timberwork repair and repainting of this landmark site, designed by Charles Natusch in 1906 and beloved by the community.
Tingey Building, 77 Victoria Avenue
A $10,000 grant was awarded for seismic assessment and upgrade design work to futureproof this newly scheduled mid-century commercial building.
64 Guyton Street
This project received $12,000 toward reinstating historic shopfront features, including leadlight windows and traditional timberwork.
Repertory Theatre, 4 Ridgway Street
A grant of $3,691.52 supported professional advice to scope out staged refurbishment work following the Council’s offer of building ownership to the theatre group.
Round two recipients
St Peter’s Church, 75 Koromiko Road
$26,546.70 was awarded to repaint the oldest public building in the district, built in 1866 on Victoria Avenue and relocated to Gonville in 1922.
Duigan’s Buildings, 23 Ridgway Street
This historically significant building received $15,314.50 to support façade restoration, including sash window repair and removal of inappropriate cladding.
Cosmopolitan Club, 30 Drews Avenue
A grant of $17,606.70 was approved to repaint this central building’s exterior, with advice to revise the window colour to ensure long-term timber preservation.
Imlay-Saunders Memorial, Wordsworth Street
The Council supported a grant of $2,097.60 to renew the lead lettering on this early public monument in Gonville, ensuring its legibility and preserving its story for future generations.
Repertory Theatre, 4 Ridgway Street
A grant of $13,434.50 was approved for the restoration of historic frontage elements and repainting of the facade.
Image: St Peter's Church in Koromiko Road has been allocated more than $26,000 for repainting