Historic Bach on Boulder Bank burns down this week in Nelson

Nelson Fire Pigeon Post News

One of the baches on the boulder Bank burnt down this week. In the 1970’s there was an outcry in the community as the baches on Bolder Bank were going to be torn down, but today they are considered historical buildings.

Many people were concerned about the fire on Wednesday 3rd November about 11.30am and many calls were made to the Nelson Marlborough Fire Emergency services as the Boulder Bank is very visible too many residents in Nelson.

Nelson Marlborough Fire Emergency services had to be transported to the Boulder Bank by the Nelson award winning Coastguard as there are no roads to the baches on the Bank.

The Bach, believed to have been owned by local Alan Cederman, became engulfed in fire and the fire services were unable to save it.

I contacted the Nelson Marlborough Fire Emergency for an update, they referred me to the police who said that police investigations into it were ongoing. Because the building was historical I asked the Nelson City Council whether they would be doing an archeological investigation, but I have received no reply.

The Department of Conservation has managed the Boulder Bank since 1992. Since then owners have been issued with five-year renewable licences for their baches. Some of the baches were built in the 1940s and 1950s, while others did originate as rough shelters constructed by local fishermen and whalers in the 1880s and 1890s.

The baches were constructed from an innovative mix of building materials, such as kerosene tins, boulders and driftwood. These structures are unique and are significant for the way they reflect the use of materials readily to hand in the manner of their construction.

On Heritage New Zealand’s website it said the Boulder Bank baches were “architecturally significant” as examples of the traditional New Zealand bach, and represented a type of building that used to be seen often in rural and seaside locations.

The Nelson Boulder Bank / Te Taero a Kereopa is of cultural significance to Maori. It is considered a wahi tapu area that is integrally connected to the history of iwi occupation of the Whakatu, Nelson area.

Pigeon Post News