Buyer sought for central historic building

The building at the corner of Itchen and Tees Sts, formerly known as the AMP Society building and...
The building at the corner of Itchen and Tees Sts, formerly known as the AMP Society building and now home to Cucina restaurant and Tees St cafe, has been listed for sale by tender. PHOTO: REBECCA RYAN
Owners of one of Oamaru’s landmark heritage buildings believe the "time is right" to sell.

Last week, the building at the corner of Itchen and Tees Sts, formerly known as the AMP Society building and now home to Cucina restaurant and Tees St cafe, was listed for sale by tender.

When Tee One Properties Ltd bought the 1871 building in 2013, directors Andy and Mary-claire Anderson and Keith and Lynn Stevens said their aim was to "establish and build a successful, vibrant business which would employ local people and ... be an asset to the town".

They opened Cucina 1871 restaurant in 2013, and Tees St cafe in an adjoining space in 2014.

"In respect to the restaurant and cafe, we believe we achieved this," they said in a statement.

In 2016, they sold the Cucina and Tees St businesses to executive chef Pablo and his wife Yanina Tacchini, while retaining ownership of the building.

"[Mr and Mrs Tacchini] have rebranded the business and taken both Cucina and Tees St cafe to a new level of excellence," they said.

"It has been a privilege to have been the custodians of such an outstanding building, with wonderful supportive tenants who shared our passion."

The upstairs of the building was refurbished in 2017 and leased to the Waitaki District Council as office space the following year.

''Existing tenancies were protected, the owners said.'' 

LJ Hooker Oamaru principal agent Stephen Robertson said there had been national interest in the building.

"It’s a privilege marketing it, given it has such a historic importance," Mr Robertson said.

The building was built in 1871 for John Hood and John Shennan's millinery, dressmaking and tailoring store.

It carries a Category 1 classification from Heritage New Zealand, signifying it is a place of special or outstanding historical or cultural significance or value.

In 1882, it was sold to the Australian Mutual Provident (AMP) Society. The facade was remodelled by Forrester and Lemon in 1885 for the AMP Society’s offices and verandas were added to the shop fronts on Itchen and Tees Sts.

AMP owned the building until 1958 when it was bought by stock and station agents Stringer and Co Ltd.

The North Otago Club took over the building in 1975 and undertook major renovations to it in 2010, including the reinstatement and restoration of the verandas.

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