PRESERVING THE PAST

With earthquake strengthening requirements becoming increasingly strict, it seems more and more of our heritage buildings are being abandoned or demolished. Which is why the recent renovation of the Johnston and Co. building in Whanganui makes for a nice change - and also proves it can be done!

The Johnston and Co. building was commissioned by a Mr John Johnston who arrived in Wellington from London in 1843. He would later become a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council and he used his enterprise and rare business ability to establish the well-known Wellington firm of Johnston and Co. in the mid-1840s with some associates, trading as a stock and station agency with England, New South Wales and other colonies. It imported wines and spirits and general merchandise, and was a prominent exporter of wool, flax, frozen and preserved meat, and produce. The firm also worked as shipping agents, and as insurance agents for, among others, National Fire and Marine Insurance

Company of New Zealand in Whanganui; needing a base for its Whanganui operations, Johnston and Co. opened premises there in 1878. Whanganui was a rapidly growing region and by 1914 the company had outgrown the original building and set about building a suitably grand brick building in Taupo Quay. The last brick was laid on 21 August 1914with a silver trowel no less!

Fast forward a century however and times had truly changed, with buildings like the Johnston and Co. falling into disuse and then disrepair. In addition to needing interior refitting for modern uses like IT cabling and air-conditioning, the real elephant in the room was earthquake strengthening. Post the Christchurch earthquake, tough new requirements meant that most people put restoring older commercial properties into the too hard basket, shuttered them up and started pondering demolition.

Dmytro Dizhur and Marta Giaretton are, however, not most people. Marta hails from Venice and Dmytro arrived from Ukraine 20 years ago, and they both know a thing or two about the preservation of old buildings having worked in that industry previously. When they saw the state the Johnston and Co. they knew they had to do something to preserve this important part of Whanganui’s past. “It was heartbreaking to see it sitting unused and unloved,” Marta says. “It was in an important location, kind of the gateway to Whanganui, and we immediately thought that we had to do something to show that such buildings could be not only saved but could come

back and play an important part in the community. Many people see the cost of strengthening and refurbishing as too high, but the cost of losing this part of our heritage is even higher I think.”

People were actually stopping to say how happy they were to see something being done to it.

And so, the pair - quite literally - rolled up their sleeves, purchased the building and got stuck in.

“We started by painting the facade - ourselves, with brushes! - and the reaction from everyone, from the Council to people passing in the street was so very positive. People were actually stopping to say how happy they were to see something being done to it. So many people have some sort of attachment to the building and were sad to see it being forgotten.”

COVID lockdowns threw an additional spanner in the works, building consent complications had to be overcome, and the aforementioned earthquake strengthening had to be dealt with, but - from painting to engineering and construction - the dynamic duo just kept on keeping on.

“Earthquake strengthening actually turns out to be a minimal part of what is involved in getting an old building up and running again,” says Marta. “I think people get a little too scared of it sometimes, and there are many modern materials and methods to make it easier. There are always ways to make it work, you just have to figure it out.”

The result of figuring it out is spectacular. A truly beautiful exterior has given back the Johnston and Co. building its status as a landmark, and the interior is a tour de force of combining modern finishes with traditional features.

“It was heartbreaking to see it sitting unused and unloved”.

All the original construction and decorative details have been maintained as much as possible and restored to their original glory. The architectural charm of brickwork and beams have been retained to make New York-style loft apartments and an impressive penthouse up top. These are available for short-term stays on Airbnb, offering a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in their upscale urban elegance. Additionally, prime retail and office spaces on the first level are currently open for lease for businesses looking to establish themselves in the vibrant heart of Whanganui, and - perhaps best of all! - a wine bar will be occupying the rear of building, looking out over the river.

“The enthusiasm of the Whanganui people in seeing this building’s journey to being restored has been essential in finding the renewed energy to persist and complete the project and vision for the Johnston and Co. building,” Marta says. “And it has not just restored retail to the downtown, but because it has accommodation and commercial it is helping to bring people back into the central business district, and that is something we are especially proud of.”

In recognition of the amazing job Dmytro and Marta have done, in November 2023 the building was named in the Whanganui Regional Heritage Awards for its meticulous restoration; the building won the Supreme Award, the Public Realm - Saved and Restored Award, and the Seismic Award, a fitting tribute to how much can be achieved by rolling up your sleeves - and a light of hope for others across the country considering preserving our past.