Old arts centre building up for grabs

It’s served the community as both an arts centre and a classroom.

Now the former Queenstown Arts Centre building on the corner of Stanley Street and Ballarat St is ready for its next adventure.

Queenstown Lakes District Council is inviting expressions of interest from people who want to relocate and repurpose the 77-year-old wooden building, which was once part of the district’s original high school. The invitation comes after councillors resolved to remove the building from the Schedule of Assets on 11 August 2022, following public consultation in April and May 2022. It has been vacant since May, when the arts centre council lease expired.

“We are pleased to be looking for a new home for the building after the community told us they were passionate about its history and did not want to see it demolished,” QLDC Property Director Quintin Howard says. The single-level building, constructed circa 1945, is made from timber with weather board cladding and a metal roof. Its floor area is 425m2, laid out into studio space, art classrooms and gallery space. It will be transferred on an “as is, where is” basis, with no warranties, the expression of interest document states.

Results from a recent asbestos survey of the building showed there was asbestos containing material (ACM) found within the building. The ACM was found to be in the pipe lagging. QLDC have taken the decision to remove the pipes, lagging and other potentially affected materials, including flooring, joists and bearers, which were close to the lagging.

Any structural material and flooring removed will not be reinstated, but will include bracing to enable the building to be transported. Council plans to use the Stanley St / Ballarat St block in the longer-term for Project Manawa, which will be a community and cultural hub, including new performing and visual arts centres, along with retail and potentially a new council building.

In the shorter term, the vacant land will be used for a temporary boost to town centre carparking. Many former tenants of the building and neighbouring Queenstown Performing Arts Trust buildings moved to Te Atamira, the new arts and cultural facility at Remarkables Park which opened in May.

“It is important to see the building retained for community use if possible and Council will be evaluating the EOIs against a set of criteria including the new owner’s intended use for the building, location, and how it will benefit the Queenstown Lakes District Community,” Howard says.

Expressions of interests close on Wednesday 21 December. There’s more information on the council website.