Plans for the refurbishment of the Riccarton Tea House are moving a step closer to fruition.

A conservation plan is being updated and it is hoped that fundraising will get under way in the next few months. City Councillor and Deputy Mayor Lesley Keast says a lot of work has already been done to get the area ready for a major restoration and refurbishment.

“What we’re waiting for now is the paper-work to be finalised about establishing a charitable trust for fundraising, and then the work begins in earnest.”

Lesley says work to restore the tea house to its former glory will cost around $600,000-$700,000. “Much of that will come from fundraising. We’ve also asked for a contribution from the City Council’s Heritage Fund, which will be subject to the Council’s annual planning process.”

She says the money will be spent on a complete restoration of the tea house buildings and grounds as detailed in the conservation plan. As part of the restoration programme, a paved walkway will be constructed around the lake.

“The end goal is to return the tea house to its former use as a function centre. Apart from its use commercially on race days and other occasions, the tea house will be available for hire by the public and by organisations of all kinds.”

Lesley says it also has great potential to become a significant tourist attraction. The restoration of the tea house has been more than two years in the planning. Built in 1903 at a cost of £1500, it was part of a programme of improvements to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Canterbury Jockey Club in 1904.

The Edwardian tea house is located to the west of the grandstands at the Riccarton Park Racecourse. It was designed and built by S & A Luttrell, specialists in the design of racecourse grandstands and buildings. The large building was originally surrounded by water and a favourite gathering place for race goers, but over the last 20 years has fallen out of use.

An extract from The Press on 4 November 1903 reads “…the ornamental tea house with its broad verandahs under which in warm days one can lounge or take light refreshments; the artificial waters encircling the island upon which this new structure stands surrounded by a belt of fir trees and pretty borders, so planted that there shall be a constant succession of bloom, present a scene such as cannot be surpassed for beauty by any Australasian racecourse…”

Lesley says the tea house is of historical and cultural significance. “It is of national importance to the history of racing in New Zealand being the only one of its kind left standing.”

She is keen to hear from anyone who has a story about the tea house and she plans to record the anecdotes for historical purposes. Lesley can be contacted on 941 8564 or 942 6716.