The Arrowtown community is being asked to decide the future of the historic Cooper’s Terrace remains.
Over the past decade or so, Tauranga-based archaeological artist Jan Morrison and a group of volunteers have painstakingly uncovered the remains of seven stone huts and a decorative folly — the entrance to the German Castle, also known as Miller’s Gateway.
Morrison’s put the site forward to Heritage New Zealand for a category two classification, the same classification held by the nearby Chinese Village.
Through the Arrowtown Village Association (AVA), Morrison’s put three future options for Cooper’s Terrace out to the community:
● Stabilise walls and leave it;
● Stabilise walls, restore some features including the folly, a hut, and parts of a garden wall, which will require resource consent, funding, potentially new signs and annual site maintenance; or
● A full presentation — after restoration, the site would become a tourist destination, similar to the Chinese Village.
Under the latter, the folly and paths would be restored, hut locations signposted with an account of their story, and bench seating added.
Invasive species would also be removed and planting carried out, with an annual work programme established.
AVA chair Susan Rowley says voting closes this coming Tuesday — for the project to progress, the community needs to show its support, and should it progress, eventually volunteer to help.
She says it’s a ‘‘special opportunity’’ to uncover more of Arrowtown’s history in an area that is easily accessible.
‘‘The project provides another opportunity to educate people to understand and appreciate our local heritage.’’
To vote, visit bit.ly/3PjVxVr
