Historic homestead is dismantled bit by bit

A landmark building that has graced Masterton's Perry St for about 107 years but fails to meet modern-day earthquake risk standards is being carefully dismantled.

The former Prior doctor's residence, and more recently the Lane residence, is being taken apart piece by piece by new owner David Borman, so much of it can be re-used.

A new purpose-built building will become home to a software development company, expected to employ 40 people.

When Mr Borman first bought the old two-storey brick home he thought about strengthening it but when the cost shot past $500,000 that was dropped as an option.

Instead, the demolition is being carefully done to ensure some of the material, including windows and bricks, can be used in the new building and the remainder sold or recycled.

Mr Borman said there was a wealth of beautiful fittings, including double-hung windows "which are as good as the day they went in", lovely internal panel doors, the best turned-timber fireplaces he has ever seen, leadlight doors, and thousands of lineal metres of rimu and matai flooring.

"We are going to salvage all the bricks and we have been able to lift them off without using hammers.

"The walls are five-bricks thick and were put in using lime mortar, so they were basically staying in place through the weight alone," Mr Borman said.

The old house nevertheless survived the huge 1942 earthquake, although chimneys were damaged.

In order to demolish the old home Mr Borman had to apply for, and was granted, a resource consent by Masterton District Council as the house was on a local heritage list.

He also had to produce an engineer's report.

An old shed on the property has been purchased by the owner of a historic home and is to be relocated in its entirety.