Alexandra’s historic Vallance Cottage, closed to the public and cordoned off since last Friday, has experienced further significant deterioration over the long weekend.
The Central Otago District Council Property Team has reported the partial collapse of the 128-year-old cottage’s south-western wall, which occurred early evening yesterday (Tuesday 29 October 2024), after the team had been onsite to assess how the wall could be temporarily supported until further investigation could take place.
Regrettably, further significant damage was seen following the further collapse of the wall overnight.
Some of the original furniture had been removed from the cottage on Friday as a precaution when the decision was made to close and cordon-off the site.
CODC Property and Facility manager Garreth Robinson said staff and the Vallance Cottage Working Group were devastated at the damage and the wall’s failure.
“As people may be aware, we had identified that the cottage’s walls had been deteriorating over the past year, especially on that south-western side, and the team has been working hard to stop further deterioration to the mudbricks with the removal of the concrete footpaths that were trapping moisture in the walls, back at the start of winter.
“We had been fully aware of further, rapid deterioration over the past few months, and even over the last week, hence the decision to close and cordon off the cottage last Friday for safety reasons.”
The snow and rain over Labour Weekend were contributing factors to the collapse, and to other deterioration noted elsewhere in the cottage, Mr Robinson said.
“This will be upsetting for many people in the district who know the cottage or have visited the Vallance Cottage Reserve. The staff and the working group are devastated to see the damage.”
The situation has been reported to the Council to determine the next steps.
