Radar indicates temporary wartime shelter under Latimer Square
7 February 2003
A recent underground survey investigating reports of a World War
II shelter under Latimer Square suggests remains of temporary trenches
rather than a solid bunker. Sophisticated radar equipment was used
to examine the south west corner of the square where residents recalled
the shelter being sited.
Managing Director of AVO New Zealand Trevor Lord, who conducted
the survey, said that the shelter was probably dug out to about
1m by Home Guard volunteers and shored up with timber to a height
of about 2m. “It would then have been covered over with earth
from the excavation, to create a semi-underground but solid blast
shelter against bombing or strafing.”
“There is no evidence of a permanent structure. The shelter
was probably erected hastily following the Japanese attacks on Pearl
Harbour and Darwin,” said Mr Lord. “It would have been
built to government specifications, then dismantled after the war,
with the trenches finally being filled in with soil, leaving little
trace.”
Further radar scans along Worcester Street showed up other points
of historical interest, including the remains of the 1884 tramline
that ran from Scotts Statue through Latimer Square and out to Linwood
Cemetery. The last remaining piece of the tramline is still visible
near the cemetery, beyond the carpark on Butterfield Ave.
At one stage the council of the day introduced a new service -
a tramway hearse to the cemetery, especially for people of meagre
means. “Unfortunately the service wasn’t well patronised.
It seems that even the poor wouldn’t been seen dead in this
hearse,” commented Mr Lord.
The ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment, a Noggin Smart Cart
System, is specially configured and designed to survey through ground,
employing conventional radar concepts adapted to this application.
Mr Lord said that under reasonable conditions it can penetrate into
the ground about 2 metres, showing up both ground layering and any
interface to a buried object. Results are now commonly presented
in a 3D format, making solid objects easily identifiable.
Further information: John de Zwart
Latimer Square Project Manager, Tel: 941-8954
Trevor Lord
Managing Director, AVO New Zealand
Tel: 348 5999 or 0274 314 003
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