Staff are back in their offices, café supplies are arriving, weddings and bands are booked…Nelson’s historic waterfront venue The Boathouse is about to reopen.

It’s been an ‘epic effort to get the old girl up and going’ after the storm damage of Cyclone Fehi back on February 1, according to Boathouse Manager Amie-Jo Trayes.

“We had great insurance but the rebuild uncovered more work that needed doing and was also an opportunity for us to make improvements to facilties such as the kitchen and bar,” she said. “Right from the first few hours after the storm we have had amazing support from our builders and other contractors, donations from the community, grants from heritage and community funds and our own members turning out to paint and help with the shift.”

Trayes said the new floor was laid using West Coast beech recovered from a previous cyclone, the deck was also renewed, the new kitchen would add to hirage facilties for larger events and gangways to the entrance doors and port holes drilled in the concrete wall under the building will help to prevent future storm damage.

The Boathouse Society Management Committee Chair Annie Henry paid tribute to all those involved

“It’s been a testing time but also an opportunity to rejuvenate the building and make it magnificent once more,” she said. “It really is a beautiful building in a stunning setting and we are all very excited about stepping back inside and onto the new floorboards.”

The boat-ramp is yet to be rebuilt and Henry said the structural engineer and rebuild committee are considering other future proofing ideas all the time.

A blessing service led by the Archdeacon Harvey Ruru QSM will be held next week, followed by an open day for the public on Sunday October 28, from 10am.

“The café will be open, the staff and committee will be there to answer questions, we really want the people of Nelson who have shown us so much good will to come down and see what the renewed Boathouse is all about,” Henry said. “It’s a way for us to say thank you and to let people know a little more about this historic building and its unique community ownership.”

There will be performances from the Community Choir at the Boathouse and Nelzapoppin, who both call The Boathouse home.

Coming events include a sold out Opening Benefit Bash with The Warratahs on 1 November, an encore Warratahs concert on 2nd November and a Benefit Ball with the Nelson Jazz Club on 10 November. More info atwww.theboathousenelson.co.nz

Everyone is invited to the open day at the Boathouse from 10am to 4pm on Sunday October 28. Entry Free.

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