Norwood family launches fundraiser to help save Begonia House
Wednesday, 4 December 2024
Should it stay or should it go? Join the conversation in the comments below.
The family behind one of Wellington’s most visited attractions has launched a fund-raising campaign to fight its planned demolition.
Wayne Norwood’s parents, Walter and RanaNorwood gifted Begonia House in Wellington’s Botanic Garden to the city in 1960.
He remembers as a child, being “dragged along” to its opening ceremony.
Today, more than 60 years on, Norwood says he is horrified the council is planning to tear down what its own publicity calls a “stunning venue” and ‒ along with the rose garden named after his grandmother ‒ the most visited part of the garden, and has vowed to fight the proposal.
To that end he is gifting a large donation to a “battle fund” he hopes Wellingtonians will get behind.
The Victorian-inspired greenhouse, which contains a variety of tropical and exotic plants including the famous “Mr Stinky” or Amorphophallus Konja and is used for events such as weddings, is slated for demolition as part of the council’s LTP cost-cutting measures.
Wellington City Council officers argue much of Begonia House, which was damaged in a severe storm earlier this year, is at the end of its life. Fixing it was expected to cost somewhere in the vicinity of $20 million, demolishing it between $3m and $8m.
Norwood is sceptical, saying that while it needed new glass and a new heating system it was hardly the most dangerous building in Wellington.
“You know as a child at the opening of it I thought, what the hell … I wasn’t very interested. But time has gone on and I’m devastated,” Norwood said.
“When Walter and Rana did it, of course, it was an enormous amount of money. And to think now that's just going to be taken away from from the citizens of Wellington, I'm just staggered. I can't believe it”.
Norwood’s phone has been running hot with messages of support. He hopes Wellingtonians of all stripes will get on board with the campaign. “I don’t want people to think they need a lot of money. I’d rather have 30,000 people giving $2 than one or two giving bigger amounts. We just want people to put their hands up, and the more the merrier.”
One local who is definitely putting his hand up, and in his pocket to donate, is businessman Myles Gazley. He has photographs of his kids as toddlers among the flowers, while youthful birthdays were sometimes celebrated at the nearby café.
“It’s a beautiful piece of patina history, and a special part of Wellington. It needs protecting.You go to other cities around the world and they have these beautiful buildings. Here we seem to have urban vandalism.”
Meanwhile former local body candidate Paula Muollo has launched a petition to prevent the demolition of what she describes as a sanctuary and “part of our cultural heritage”.
As of Tuesday it had 1162 signatures. “I’ve had so many calls since I put it up on Saturday from really angry and upset people; people who were married there, people who just enjoy wandering around it.
“It means so much to so many people. It feels like slowly, slowly we’re losing a lot of our landmarks.”
Social media is also fired up by the potential loss, with hundreds of people sharing memories of visiting the gardens and Begonia House. Among them is Kāpiti Mayor Janet Holborow whose first summer job was playing every lunch time, at the adjoining tea house.
“While I was a student I played in a string quartet for many weddings and other events at Begonia House. It’s a special place, and an important icon and visitor destination within the Botanic Gardens. I certainly hope it can be saved so future generations can enjoy the quiet serenity and have a local opportunity to experience and learn about exotic flora.”
As a child local resident Steve Thompson was entranced by the weird and wonderful plants.
“I have such vivid recollections of visiting Begonia House, the warm humid atmosphere combined with exotic tropical plants sent my imagination on a field day. I found Venus Fly Traps on occasion there but, to this day, I never encountered a Triffid.
“Memories from exploring Begonia House colour the imagination of many Wellington kids. Begonia House and the rose gardens are iconic symbols of the capital, alongside the bucket fountain, the cable car and Oriental Bay. They’re all touchstones of the idyllic days of any kid that grew up in the capital.”
Begonia House, which features seasonal displays of orchids, tuberous begonias, cyclamen, and ornamentals, along with a lily pond containing aquatic plants, is one of the most visited attractions in Wellington, second only to Te Papa. In 2020 thieves stole dozens of tropical plants costing thousands of dollars from the site, with then manager David Sole saying it was the biggest theft ever seen at the gardens.
The building was earthquake strengthened in 2012.
People wanting more information about contributing can email: wbgfriends@gmail.com
Comments are moderated during working hours and may not appear immediately.