Miss Newey's Cottage

Its cream paint and blue window trims are peeling. A French press (coffee pot) sits forgotten in the window behind the white curtains.

It is a sad state for what was a gift from Eileen Newey to the former Henderson Borough Council. Now, Henderson residents Lisa Truttman, Trevor Pollard and Graham Foster are trying to bring the cottage back home.

"We would like this returned to Henderson, preferably to the Tui Glen Reserve, where there are already a number of other heritage buildings. We are waiting word from council or the report as to whether the return of the cottage to Henderson would be feasible before we can do anything else," says Ms Truttman.

The cottage's original home was at the corner of Edmonton and Great North roads. When Miss Newey died in 1987, she bequeathed the cottage and her land to the council to enable it to use a portion of the land for roading. The remainder of the land is now a reserve called Newey's Corner.

But the cottage was moved to Western Springs to become part of the facilities leased by the Auckland Horticultural Society. However, the society cannot maintain the cottage any longer and arranged with AA Citywide Demolition and House Removal to remove it.

Mr Pollard is pushing for the cottage to be moved to the historic Tui Glen Motor Camp.

"We've done an inspection there and sorted out one or two spots that could be perfect for the cottage," he says. "The council has already spent $140,000 on the camp last year. Little cottages and buildings can be put on there to fill it in like the Howick Historical Village."

The Henderson-Massey Local Board has asked council staff to look into the matter and Ms Truttman feels hopeful.

"We're certainly not getting a whole lot of red lights. We're getting the council saying they are prepared to do everything they can within their means and within their budget," she says.

Mr Pollard says there are some "purists" who claim the cottage is not historic because it left Henderson 25 years ago. "The place is beautiful. It's still the same house. Where do they get the idea that it is not historic anymore because it has left the site?"

The Newey family has lived in Henderson since the 1920s. Miss Newey was a pupil at Henderson School from 1920 to 1925 and later worked at the school in various capacities, including as a teacher for 11 years.

Her four-bedroom cottage is still in very good condition. "I think it's one of those things that slipped under the carpet without council really realising what a gem they have disposed of," says Mr Pollard.

Remembering Miss Newey

As part of its effort to save the cottage, the group is asking people who might have known Miss Newey to share remembrances of the former Henderson School teacher.

"We're already getting a number of calls and emails from people who knew Miss Newey who are giving us memories of her and even sending us photographs," says Ms Truttman.

Mr Pollard says most remember Miss Newey as a beloved teacher who in her own words " taught two generations of children."

She was an accomplished lawn bowler and a Sunday school teacher at St Michaels.

Former pupil Ms Mary Mcintosh remembers as a former pupil that everyone would volunteer to go downs to Miss Newey's cottage on an errand. This was because a sweetie or a cake would be given to the lucky volunteer by Miss Newey's mother.

Those who wish to share their memories can contract Lisa Truttman at 09 8288494 or Trevor Pollard at 09 8178822.