The Dunedin Heritage Fund (DHF) Committee received 12 grant applications to its April round requesting a total of $421,000. The Committee awarded grants totalling $214,000.

The grants provided funding towards seismic strengthening work, repairs to slate roofs, preparing a conservation report, and restoration projects. The successful projects include key CBD buildings, buildings on arterial routes, as well as landmark rural buildings.

The Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand received a grant of $20,000 in November 2022 to assist with improving the foundations of the Wingatui signal box, as part of restoring the building. The two-storey signal box was recently lifted by crane to a temporary site beside the rail platform. Once the new concrete foundation is complete, the crane will be back to lift the signal box back to its original site.

Signal boxes were an integral part of our national rail network. Signalmen manually operated the points and signals from the signal box in order to control the movement of trains. The signal boxes were two storey, to allow the signalman an elevated position so they could see up and down the tracks. Constructed in 1907, the Wingatui signal box was in use until 1991 when an automatic signalling system was introduced. The building is a standard design that was used around the country but very few survive. Other remaining examples are in Greymouth, Paekākāriki, and Ōtāhuhu.

The next round of the Heritage Fund closes on 31 July 2023. DCC welcomes enquiries from the owners of heritage buildings who are planning to undertake works in the next two years.

Please contact Mark Mawdsley (Team Leader Advisory Services) or Heather Bauchop (DCC Heritage Advisor) on 03 477 4000 or email heritage@dcc.govt.nz