An old building off Studholme Road with a rich history is due to be demolished to make way for the new Studholme Rise housing development.

The building (pictured above) is believed to have been built sometime after 1912. It was originally the ‘cook shop’ for workers on Wānaka Station.

Studholme Rise developer John May said the building is in such a derelict state that relocation or reuse is not an option.

“The sad thing is when I looked at the property a few years ago I was hoping there could be something done with the building,” he said. 

“There is not much more that can be done. It is in a totally derelict state.”

In its day the building was regarded as the social hub of Wānaka Station. Farm irrigator Tom McFarlane and his wife lived in the building and after meals workers would relax in the games room.

Doris Studholme (left) with her daughter Kerry inside the old cook shop on Friday night.

George and Doris Studholme lived there from 1963-1971, and in the late 1970s the Wānaka Districts Club took up residence, before moving on ten years later.

Willy Rankin was a founding districts club committee member and in 2016 he shared memories of the club’s time at the old cook shop with the Wānaka App. 

“We planned to be in the building for a decade before building something of our own and it was damn near ten years to the day that we were there,” Willy said. “We had a hell of a lot of fun there and lots of activities.”

The club was normally open on Friday and Saturday nights and for fundraising the club would hold activities like mystery bus rides, a hangi at Christmas, “round the bay” races and raffles.

“We wouldn’t be able to get away with a lot of the activities now because of regulations,” Willy said.

The club operated as a co-operative and committee and club members would all pitch in, serving drinks behind the bar, cooking and keeping the building in good condition, operating almost entirely on volunteer labour. 

The late Jill Blennerhassett told the Wānaka App in 2016 that the old cookshop was just one of many buildings which were part of Wānaka Station before the farm was split between her and her brother Rolfe Mills following their mother’s death in the early 1970s.  

There were shearers quarters built close to the cook shop, which housed the many farm workers.

The original woolshed still stands in a paddock behind the old cook shop. It housed 24-30 blade shearing stands and is now a protected feature in the QLDC District Plan. 

The stables were originally located in front of the cook shop, and were purpose-built to house two six-horse teams.

Additionally the yards, which were located where Wānaka Station Park is now, were where workers would meet at the start of the day. Horses would be brought down from the stables.

Other buildings included the manager’s house, which has been relocated to Maungawera Junction, and the homestead - which burnt down in 1913 and was replaced. The second homestead also burnt down, in 1931, and only the foundations remain.  

Much of the land has been sold, but some of what was Wānaka Station is still owned by members of the family. Wānaka Station Park was gifted to the town. 

“It was just too nice for only one person to enjoy,” Jill said.

The old cookshop was lived in up until about 14 years ago. 

On Friday (October 14) approximately 50 people gathered to share their memories, bid their farewell, and raise a toast to the slice of Wānaka history.  

John said a date had not been set for demolition of the building but he did not expect it to still be on the site in a year's time.

PHOTOS: Wānaka App