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Bye bye Chateau Tongariro


With much sadness last week I read that the historical Chateau Tongariro will be closing after 94 years due to being earthquake prone. Apparently DOC (department of conservation) had been discussing the lease with the owners and specialists had also been conducting site and seismic assessment due to plants to renovate the building. They found that underground shifts over time meant that the building was no longer safe so staff made the decision to close instead.

This building is iconic to New Zealanders and will be sorely missed. In case you didn't know this area is hugely volcanic with Mount Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe nearby. 

When we lived in Tauranga 5 years ago we visited this spot and enjoyed the snow, something we don't normally see. I haven't been inside but I found these photos online which are not mine of some of the interior:

 

 

 




Linking up with Through my lens, Ruby Tuesday, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.

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Comments

Graham Edwards said…
That really is very sad. Few things evoke the past more than old buildings be they churches, old houses and hotels or larger properties like this one.
7 February 2023 at 06:09
Bill said…
That is sad but it's better to be safe.
7 February 2023 at 08:52
roentare said…
These are classic interior and wonderful buildings.
7 February 2023 at 09:38
Sallie (FullTime-Life) said…
It's a beautiful building and I'm glad you at least got to visit it 'in person' before it closed. Does this mean that people still can look at the outside of it though or are they going to tear it down? I hope at least people can still look at from a distance without going in..
7 February 2023 at 09:53
Susan Heather said…
It is so sad. I left it on my "to do" list for too long.
7 February 2023 at 10:49
William Kendall said…
A beautiful interior. An understandable decision.
7 February 2023 at 11:43
Anonymous said…
Such a pity. It really was one of New Zealand s best known buildings. I've only seen it from the outside. Like many others I wish I had been able to stay there and hope they can restore it in some way
7 February 2023 at 22:58
DawnTreader said…
"Safety first" I suppose, but it does seem sad.
8 February 2023 at 06:24
Tom said…
...it looks gorgeous and it's sad that after 94 years that the building can't be saved.
8 February 2023 at 08:32
Yogi♪♪♪ said…
Wow, that is too bad. But I saw some of the video from Syria of multiple high rise buildings collapsing and that is quite sobering.
What a great building to lose.
8 February 2023 at 12:20
Veronica Lee said…
What a pity!

It really is a magnificent building.

Hugs and blessings, Amy.
8 February 2023 at 15:37
Iris Flavia said…
Oh, so very sad they cannot make it earthquake-safe. It´s such a beauty inside-out.
At least you´ve been there and share now.
8 February 2023 at 17:47
Lydia C. Lee said…
That's sad - it really looks like a glory of yesteryear that they'd kept in good nick! Looks lovely.
8 February 2023 at 18:35
Pisi Prkl said…
Whutta great place! Pity it has to go.
9 February 2023 at 00:23
NCSue said…
That is sad indeed. Glad you were able to capture the photos.
Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2023/02/a-few-images-from-chinese-lantern.html
9 February 2023 at 11:28
Sharon said…
What a shame to lose such a great looking place with so much history.
9 February 2023 at 12:23
magiceye said…
Soon it will exist only in History books!
9 February 2023 at 15:26
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