Wakefield Public Library (61 Edward Street)

Wakefield Library spruced up by Anne Hardie

Reproduced with permission from the Waimea Weekly, Wednesday 12th June 2024

Roger Batt remembers being separated from his classmates for laughing too much back in the 1950s when Wakefield’s old public library also housed a classroom for the local school.

The building has had a lot of use over the years and now it has undergone a major renovation to set it up for generations to come.

It looks a little different to the days Roger was a pupil in one little room and he remembers the unpainted rimu boards on the walls and the Plunket rooms at the front. He even remembers the the Plunket nurse arriving in the morning to light the fire in the front room. Best of all, he remembers laughing and can point to the spot where he had to sit, separated from his friend.

“I was separated from my mate because we kept making each other laugh”.

The weatherboard building on Edward St was built in 1912 to replace the original Waimea South Mechanics Institute and Circulating Library on Pitfure Rd after a land-swap to build the library closer to the growing village.

Waimea South Historical Society secretary, Yo Tye, says the long winded title was typical for libraries back then as they were originally educational facilities for trades as well as providing information for the public.

On its new site it became the Wakefield Public Library and went on to house Plunket rooms alongside its library facilities until both moved down the street.

“It was a cold, old building back then,” Yo says. “Now it’s fully insulated and a fully functioning building in the village.”

Over the years, the former library has housed scouts, guides, dance classes in the 1980s and for the past few years it has been Wakefield’s Toy Library, with a new generation creating memories within its walls.

“It’s wonderful, just brilliant. It’s a well used facility and we have lots of young families in Wakefield.”

In the past few months, Tasman District Council has given the historical building a $250 000 upgrade which partially replaced tiles, structurally strengthened it for earthquake risk limits, replaced some rotten weather boards with specially milled timbers to maintain the same heritage profile, re-roofed it and repainted the exterior. Inside, the false ceiling has been removed, insulation put in the ceiling and floor, and many of the old, damaged heritage features have been repaired. As well as the insulation, a heat pump system now keeps the interior warmer than it has probably ever been in its 112 year history.

Toy library secretary, Anna Nygrow-Riedel, says there are plans to include an after-school art programme in the building, movie nights, and include a wider age group in a range of activities.

“It would be nice to broaden it to more of the community. It is a commercial building, but the council are letting it be used by the community which is great.”