Community bids farewell to historic Godley House

9:33 am on 12 September 2011

The organiser of a wake for one of Banks Peninsula's most cherished heritage buildings says the event gave the community a chance to unite in its grief.

Diamond Harbour's Godley House, built in 1880, suffered some damage in the September earthquake and was deemed irreparable after the February quake.

The wake's organiser, Adrian Te Patu, says allowing people to tour the perimeter of the building on Sunday gave them the opportunity to come to grips with the extent of the damage, and the knowledge that it must be demolished.

Mr Te Patu says no date for the demolition has been set, but the community will now be able to put its mind to what comes next.

Many visitors expressed sadness that the building has to come down after serving as a hotel, meeting place, and venue for almost one hundred years.

Mr Te Patu says there is a strong push for another social hub to be built in its place.