New cosmopolitan club premises for Raetihi

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 668, 23 December 1996, Page 1

New cosmopolitan club premises for Raetihi

AChristmas present for Raetihi is the news that Raetihi 's cosmopolitan club will have new premises by June next year, following the signing of a construction contract with Peter Richards Builders. The new $0.5 million building will be a Lockwood construction and will besited 16metres from the street frontage, with car parking in front. Once the first stage of the new building is completed the old building will be demolished and the second stage constructed. The club has purchased the Hot Spot Cafe property next door and

they hope to yse that area in the future. Construction is due to start at the end February with completion by June 1997. Although smaller, at 446m2, than the old building, the new one has been designed to make more efficient use of the space. It features a separate lounge bar with adjacent kitchen, which can be used for functions, and a members' bar which will accommodate two 8-ball table and two snooker tables. Both areas will be serviced by one bar area, while still being able to be shut off from each other.

Both bars will featureexposedroof trusses (similar in sty le to the Ohakune Trustbank building) and Lockwood timber sarking. This is to engender a pioneering look. The entrance and bars will incorporate features from the present building such as the large wall mural and hunters' trophy and stuffedkiwi cases. Club members had discussed the idea of renovating the present building, or demolishing it and starting anew, for about four years. To renovate, the costs would have included meeting the new building standards.

After much deliberation and gi ving all members the opportunity to have their say, the committee were gi ven the green light to go ahead with the new building after everyone concerned agreed it will be more cost-effective in the long run. Other club matters At the final committee meeting for the year held recently, plans were briefly outlined for the elubs forthcoming celebrations, they include, the clubs 50th anniversary celebration, the demolition of the old club, the opening of the new premises and a life Turn to Page 2

New cosmopolitan club premises

From Page 1 membership function. The current club president Keith Leary signed the contract with Mr Richards on Thursday 19 December. "I am very pleased to hear that finally the club is going ahead with the new building, after the years of work that has gone into bringing things to this stage; at-last

its going to happen," said immediate past president John Dempsey. Member Des McFadyen gave the Bulletin a brief outline of the club's history. The original club was founded as a bowling club in 1947 when its premises were in Ward Street. The founding president was WG Watson. The official open-

ing took place on 27 August 1948. A fire in 1970 gutted the

interior and damaged much of the exterior. After members pulled together to re-

pair and renovate the building, it was re-opened in 1972.