A wrought iron fence that has stood in front of the old Polytech building on Cameron Street for over 100 years is being removed, restored and relocated to the Ashburton Domain.

Open Spaces staff needed a jackhammer and brute strength to detach the fence from its concrete footing this week and it will be sandblasted and powdercoated before being installed at the domain, near the wildflower garden.

Infrastructure and Open Spaces Group Manager Neil McCann said it was a great opportunity to preserve a slice of history and give it new life in a more visible place.

“There are actually three sections of the fence being removed this week and they will be added to the sections we previously rescued, restored and installed at the domain as a decorative entrance to the wildflower and butterfly garden, off the main domain driveway. We’ll also add some plants and it will really enhance the area even further.

“Council has been doing a lot of work in the wildflower garden over the past months and has given one of the former bird aviaries a makeover to become a display for vintage garden equipment that was once used in the domain.”

A memorial stone that was laid as part of the Polytech fence has also been saved and will be incorporated into the new wildflower entrance. It shows the fence was dedicated by Ashburton Mayor Henry Davis on 11 January 1912.

Mr McCann said Council parks staff have proved to be fairly resourceful in recycling materials with a historical link to the community.

“A similar wrought iron fence that once went around Baring Square East was also rescued and restored and now runs along Seafield Road at the Ashburton Cemetery.”

The old Polytech buildings on Cameron Road will be demolished later this year and the area redeveloped for car parking.

Have you checked out the Ashburton Domain’s history trail? There are five sound points in and around the domain with QR codes that you can scan and listen to short stories about the domain’s past 160 years.