Upper Hutt Blockhouse
Encyclopedia
The Upper Hutt Blockhouse also known as the Wallaceville Blockhouse is a 19th-century American-style military blockhouse
situated in Upper Hutt, New Zealand. One of very few such blockhouses built in New Zealand, it is preserved as a Category I historic place.
district were hostile, and there was also fear of raids from Wairarapa
Māori, leading settlers to petition for construction of a refuge. The disputed land sale at Waitara
in Taranaki also heightened fear of unrest.
The blockhouse was designed by Col. T. R. Mould and built in 1860.
The frame of the two-story structure is made from timber and double-skinned with shingle infill, to protect it from rifle fire. Loopholes
were also built into the blockhouse so defenders could return fire. The building was at one corner of a stockade formed by a perimeter earthwork with parapet and trench. A well and magazine were within the stockade. The earthworks have since been removed and the site now sits within the grounds of Heretaunga College
.
According to Best the blockhouse was never used as a refuge, but there are anecdotal reports of families retreating there one night in the late 1880s or early 1890s during an undefined emergency.
s and Girl Guides
used the building.
In 1980 the blockhouse and the neighbouring land was classified as an historic reserve under the Reserves Act 1977. Soon after that, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
took over management of the building.
Blockhouse
In military science, a blockhouse is a small, isolated fort in the form of a single building. It serves as a defensive strong point against any enemy that does not possess siege equipment or, in modern times, artillery...
situated in Upper Hutt, New Zealand. One of very few such blockhouses built in New Zealand, it is preserved as a Category I historic place.
Construction
In 1860, Māori in the ŌtakiOtaki
Otaki may refer to:*Ōtaki , a parliamentary electorate in New Zealand*Otaki, New Zealand, a town in New Zealand*Otaki River, a river in New Zealand*Ōtaki, Chiba, a town in Japan*Ōtaki, Saitama, a former village in Japan...
district were hostile, and there was also fear of raids from Wairarapa
Wairarapa
Wairarapa is a geographical region of New Zealand. It occupies the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of metropolitan Wellington and south-west of the Hawke's Bay region. It is lightly populated, having several rural service towns, with Masterton being the largest...
Māori, leading settlers to petition for construction of a refuge. The disputed land sale at Waitara
Waitara
Waitara is the name of a number of localities:* Waitara, New South Wales* Waitara, Queensland* Waitara, New Zealand* Waitara River in Taranaki, New Zealand...
in Taranaki also heightened fear of unrest.
The blockhouse was designed by Col. T. R. Mould and built in 1860.
The frame of the two-story structure is made from timber and double-skinned with shingle infill, to protect it from rifle fire. Loopholes
Embrasure
In military architecture, an embrasure is the opening in a crenellation or battlement between the two raised solid portions or merlons, sometimes called a crenel or crenelle...
were also built into the blockhouse so defenders could return fire. The building was at one corner of a stockade formed by a perimeter earthwork with parapet and trench. A well and magazine were within the stockade. The earthworks have since been removed and the site now sits within the grounds of Heretaunga College
Heretaunga College
Heretaunga College is a secondary school located in Upper Hutt, New Zealand. It is co-educational and has approximately 800 students from Year 9 through to Year 13 ....
.
According to Best the blockhouse was never used as a refuge, but there are anecdotal reports of families retreating there one night in the late 1880s or early 1890s during an undefined emergency.
Twentieth century history
Local people expressed interest in the conservation of the structure, and in 1916 the land was reserved under the Scenery Preservation Act 1908. This was one of the first instances of a historic building being accorded legal protection in New Zealand. In 1927-28 the building was significantly repaired and windows were added on the inner side of the L-shaped wall. From 1953 to the late 1990s Boy ScoutBoy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
s and Girl Guides
Girl Guides
A Guide, Girl Guide or Girl Scout is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 10 and 14. Age limits are different in each organisation. It is the female-centred equivalent of the Scouts. The term Girl Scout is used in the United States and several East Asian...
used the building.
In 1980 the blockhouse and the neighbouring land was classified as an historic reserve under the Reserves Act 1977. Soon after that, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
took over management of the building.