Upper Hutt Blockhouse, Military fortification in Upper Hutt City, New Zealand.
Upper Hutt Blockhouse is a two-story timber building with shingle and infill walls built to withstand rifle fire during the colonial period. The structure was designed for the Hutt Battalion of Wellington Militia and uses simple, practical construction methods from that era.
The blockhouse was built in 1860 under architect Thomas Rawlings Mould and served the Hutt Battalion during conflicts with Māori tribes. After military operations ended, it was later converted to serve police purposes.
The building speaks to relationships between British settlers and Māori people during 19th-century conflicts in New Zealand. It shows how different groups came together during a time of territorial tensions.
The site is located on Blockhouse Lane off McHardie Street and can be visited through advance arrangements with Heritage New Zealand. It is wise to plan your visit ahead of time since access may be limited.
The building had multiple lives: after military use it became a police station and later hosted youth groups like the Boy Scouts until the 1990s. This range of purposes shows how communities repurposed the historic structure over the decades.
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