Narrow escape for Thames' band rotunda

Strong winds uprooted a large Puriri tree on Wednesday, almost bringing the tree down on top of the Edwardian rotunda in Thames' Victoria Park Reserve.

As the winds gathered strength ahead of a severe wind warning for the Peninsula, the area was roped off and a tree surgeon brought in to direct the falling tree away from the restored 1902 Kauri band rotunda.

Thames-Coromandel District Council Parks and Reserves Field Representative, Chris Howell says the tree became unstable just before lunchtime. "As the tree swayed in the wind, the footpath and surrounding ground was heaving and the tree could have gone in any direction."

"Some of the timber will be salvaged for carving," he said.

Officially opened by Mayor F Trembath on 10 November 1902 - the same day as Victoria Park Reserve itself was opened, having been built on land reclaimed from the Firth of Thames - the band rotunda is architecturally significant as a good example of a decorative Edwardian band rotunda and a popular venue for public musical entertainment in the early twentieth century.

The trees were planted shortly afterwards and have overshadowed the rotunda in recent years, becoming significant to the community in their own right.