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Devonport residents are rising up against a plan to turn one of Auckland's oldest pubs, the Masonic Tavern, into waterfront apartments.
About 150 individuals met at the yacht club across the road from the tavern to express concern not only about the redevelopment's design but also about losing a treasured socialising spot and live-music venue.
Owner Peter Thwaites' company Redback Develop is seeking resource consent to redevelop the site of his family business into 10 apartments and a cafe.
After operating it for 20 years and owning it since 1993, the former DB Breweries executive says the tavern no longer gives an acceptable return on a $2 million investment.
He blames a rise in sales outlets and social trends moving away from traditional taverns.
The plan means demolishing some of the existing building and keeping and restoring items of the building which date back to the mid-1860s.
Mr Thwaites said the Jasmax Architects design was sympatheticto the old structure, restoring the veranda and facade and making the heritage parts stand out more.
"It will look far better than it does now."
The application will go through a public hearing this year and North Shore City Council has extended the deadline for submissions to August 21.
Margot McRae, of Devonport Heritage, said: "We will be opposing it, though we like the restoration of the original parts and we support that.
"But we cannot support the design of the apartments facing King Edward Parade. They are too dominant, too close to the street and are the same height as the old building.
"They don't let the old building breathe and let her stand as the grand old lady she is."
Mrs McRae said the tavern and the Duder Building on the opposite corner together created a heritage landmark.
Resident Sarah Bloomfield said the meeting was called to encourage people to have their say before they lost a strong link to Auckland's waterfront history. "It's like scalping your grandmother."
Another resident, Simon Gundry, said: "I feel the building is culturally sensitive; it's been a hotel within the community since the middle 1860s."
Resident Claudia Page said: "The pub should be sold to someone who wants to operate it as a facility that we all want to go to."
Marine historian Harold Kidd said the Masonic had been enjoyed by generations of the sailing community since it was built by George Beddoes, who also built a wharf and a boat-building yard nearby.
"It was customary to set out and pull up there ... to go cruising and take all the lead ballast out of your mullet boat and replace it with bottled beer."
Mr Thwaites said freeing up liquor sales in 1989 had increased the number of Devonport-Belmont on-licences from four to 22 and off-licences from two to eight.
"The whole market has changed from the days when everybody went to the pub ... and then you throw into the mix the cheap grog at supermarkets."
Before 1989, the Masonic's sales of $3.2 million a year gave a 9 per cent return on capital invested. Last year, sales of $1.3 million resulted in a loss of $108,000.
"Maintenance just goes on and on with an old building like this," Mr Thwaites said.
Landmark Auckland hotels closed since 1989 included the Mon Desir, Globe, Glue Pot, Orewa Tavern, White Heron and Milford Marina.
He said owners had rationalised their investments at Windsor Park, Browns Bay Motor Inn and Esplanade Hotel.
MASONIC TAVERN
* On the Devonport waterfront since 1866.
* One of the country's oldest taverns.
* North Shore's premier original music venue. It hosts international musicians.
* Sales have halved since 1989 law change allowed more competition for taverns.
* Proposal to include heritage parts of the building in a 10-unit residential development.
