Lower Hutt Central Fire Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lower Hutt Central Fire Station |
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| General information | |
| Type | Fire station |
| Architectural style | Post-War modernist |
| Location | 155 Waterloo Road, Lower Hutt, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 41°12′37″S 174°54′57″E / 41.21014°S 174.91583°E |
| Completed | 1955 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Mitchell & Mitchell & Partners King, Cook & Dawson |
| Designated: | 30-April-2010 |
| Reference #: | 9319 |
The Lower Hutt Central Fire Station is a building in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. It used to be a busy fire station. When it was built in 1955, people thought it was one of the most modern fire stations in the Southern Hemisphere.
A Modern Design
The design of the fire station was greatly inspired by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It was built to show what a modern city looked like after World War II. This included new factories and state housing areas.
This building, along with the Lower Hutt town hall, the Lower Hutt civic administration building, and the Lower Hutt War Memorial Library, helped Lower Hutt become a symbol of modern building design in the 1950s.
Cool Features
When the fire station first opened, it had some amazing features. Fire engines could be started and stopped from a special control room. The doors for the fire trucks could even open by themselves! It was also the first fire station in New Zealand to have technology that could record emergency calls.
Why the Station Closed
In the mid-2000s, the New Zealand Fire Service looked at how it covered Lower Hutt. They decided to make some changes. On January 15, 2007, the Lower Hutt Central Fire Station closed. Other stations in Petone and Point Howard also closed.
Firefighters and their equipment were moved to three new stations. These new stations are in Alicetown, Avalon, and Seaview. Volunteer fire brigades in Stokes Valley, Wainuiomata, and Eastbourne help support these main stations.
What Happened Next
After it closed, the building was empty for a while. Sadly, it was damaged by vandalism. But in 2010, the station was officially protected. This means it cannot be pulled down. This protection came from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, which is now called Heritage New Zealand.
In November 2015, a property developer named Mike Friday bought the station. He plans to change the old fire station into apartments.
