Work begins on Hawke's Bay Museum & Art Gallery Redevelopment Project

Work has begun at the Hawke’s Bay Museum & Art Gallery (HBMAG) site today with the demolition of the former Lilliput and old planetarium building. The demolition of this building is in preparation for construction of the HBMAG’s new wing and main entrance, located on Tennyson Street between Marine Parade and Herschell Street.

Hawke’s Bay company Gemco Construction Ltd (Gemco) was awarded the redevelopment contract on 8 June 2011 and have advised the demolition is planned to take three weeks.

“We are extremely pleased to have won this prestigious contract. Gemco Construction will be ten years old this October and the winning of this contract is a fitting reward for the hard work and dedication that all of the Gemco staff have put in over the past 9½ years. We are commencing work this week, starting with demolition of the former Lilliput Building which will take three weeks” said Darren Diack, Managing Director of Gemco Construction Ltd.

Many people will have fond memories of the Lilliput model village and railway founded by Mr Bill Knapp of Napier in 1948 and subsequently gifted to the Napier City Council in 1970. For those seeking a bit of nostalgia Lilliput is now located in Trainworld in Dickens Street. The planetarium that operated from the same location from 1968 to 1988 is now located in the Napier Boys College grounds and is open to the public every Sunday from 7-9pm.

Once the demolition of this building is complete, Gemco will be preparing for the relocation of the former Borough Council Chambers registered as a Category 11 historic building to its new location in Byron Street.

“This is a high profile site and the public will be able to see the developments as progress takes place. I know all aspects of the project are in good hands” said Mayor Barbara Arnott.