The upgrade of Hobsonville Point’s historic Chichester Cottage begins this month, readying the building for use as a bookable community facility.
The cottage, which is located alongside Mill House on an Auckland Council reserve, dates back to about 1927 and is being gifted to the Hobsonville Point Residents Society (HPRS) by HLC in a refurbished state.

No small detail is being overlooked in the upgrade, which includes work to ensure weather-tightness (such as recladding, re-roofing, spouting, gutters and downpipes), installing a new floor and floor coverings, rewiring, replumbing, new service connections, fitting out a new bathroom and kitchen, internal redecoration, planting and building a patio/seating area.

The work is expected to be completed by December, at which time HPRS will take over the facility and manage it as a community venue available for hire on a user-pays basis.

“This opportunity is really great and we are delighted that it’s happening,” says HPRS chairperson, Peter Herbert. “We are very, very happy to be part of it as Chichester Cottage will certainly be an asset for this community for years to come.”

The cottage features one large room, a kitchen and a bathroom, and will suit small group activities of up to 20 people such as hobby groups, a practice space, exhibitions or garden parties.