Hastings Women’s Rest relocates during building renovations
The Hastings Women’s Rest building in Civic Square has been closed to the public while a remodelling project is
undertaken.
Hastings District Council has contracted Waipukurau Construction to undertake the building renovations that includes the
installation of a new roof, insulation, electrical wiring, painting, and flooring. In addition to Councils building
maintenance work, the Heretaunga Women’s Centre Incorporated Society has raised funds to undertake some minor interior
alterations to the reception area, office and kitchen and to install new lighting and heating. It also intends to update
the buildings furniture, curtains and signage.
Hastings District Deputy Mayor Cynthia Bowers says “The Women’s Rest is a Category 1 heritage building constructed in
the early 1920’s. It was the first purpose built women’s rest rooms in Australasia. The building is well recognised as
part of the Hastings historic landscape and this project will ensure that the building is available for use well into
the future.”
Cynthia Bowers says “The Women’s Rest has always played an important role for women and these refurbishments will ensure
that this continues.”
The Heretaunga Women’s Centre Society, Chair Genevieve Beech says “We are delighted to see this project begin and are
grateful to Hastings District Council for all the work that is being undertaken. The Heretaunga Women’s Centre will
continue to offer low-cost counselling and an information Centre from the Lotus Holistic Centre at 1028 St Aubyn Street
while the Women’s Rest building is closed.”
Genevieve Beech says, “The renovation of the Women’s Rest building will significantly increase the Centre’s ability to
deliver community services in a safe, warm and supportive environment. The Centre currently has 37 counseling clients,
but continues to have a long waiting list. Once the upgrade is complete, the Centre will be able to expand its
counseling service and extend the number of low–cost courses that are offered. It will deliver more support groups for
the growing number of elderly women in our community and for Maori and migrant women.”
The Heretaunga Women’s Centre is grateful to the following organisations for their support; The Anne-Marie O’Sullivan
Foundation; Eastern and Central Community Trust; Lotteries; COGS; Vavasour Charitable Trust; Hawkes Bay Foundation; The
Lion Foundation; Endeavour Community Foundation Ltd; Infinity Foundation; Springhill Charitable Trust and Frimley
Foundation; Flaxmere Licensing Trust; Community Post; Holcim Hastings Quarry; The John Mitchell McLachlan Charitable
Trust; Sanderson Trust; Pam Torbett Charitable Trust; Bernard Chambers Trust and Piccolini Kindergartens.
The project is expected to be completed by March 2015.
ends