It's a magical once-upon-a-time image, mesmerizing in its black and white, in its starkness, and taken 100 years ago. It tells a story of where we have come from, and a rebirth.

Centre stage is the diva, The Cargo Shed, the grand old lady of Dive Crescent. And alongside, a steamship, probably the Ngapuhi with its wisp of smoke, disgorging passengers from Auckland, and a cargo of necessities – rice, jam sweetcorn, soap, matches and the like – to a town, and a country, on the brink of the Great Depression.

The Ngapuhi had an undignified end, laid up and scrapped in 1941. But The Cargo Shed's story is one of optimism and hope.

She lives on and has been blessed with a $1.35 million makeover, which might ensure her next 100 years.

And this in a city whose recent past has been to pull things down.

A city ‘story' preserved

'The Cargo Shed is one of the stories of the city and we have preserved it, so it's a good news story,” says the Tauranga City Council's Gareth Wallis, who's charged with driving the restoration project.

'There aren't many historic buildings left in Tauranga other than the old Post Office, now Clarence Boutique Hotel. We have reversed a trend here.”

The harbour just about laps inside – Tauranga City Council's Gareth Willis at The Cargo Shed. Photo: Brydie Thompson.

The Cargo Shed isn't pretty – but the Harbour Board architect probably didn't intend her to be a monument to her time. Functionality within budget was probably front of mind. A place to store stuff and shift stuff.

But she's a tough old bird – and she has survived when most others haven't.

Now The Cargo Shed is an event space – gone is the dust, dirt and soot from the smoke stacks on steam ships and steam trains. Gone are the longshoremen with hand trollies and dollies manhandling cargo in and out, all day, every day.

Back in business

Now the events – the brides and grooms, the business people, the markets and festivals. Whatever the purpose, The Cargo Shed by name is back in business for all things.

'It's exciting because Tauranga has under-invested in community infrastructure for a significant period and now we're doing something about it,” says Gareth.

And it's being driven by the Commissioners.

'Their arrival saw a quick and strong commitment to make things happen.”

Suddenly money that wasn't available was available.

'The Commission is definitely driving things forward,” says Gareth.

Its thinking was to get The Cargo Shed open again smartly and see where it took them.

'It's a blank canvas,” says Gareth.

'We'll try out a whole lot of uses. Commercial, community, paid, free, whatever – try them all and see what works.”

Rafters and trusses – 100 years old. Photo: Brydie Thompson.

There's a reassuring honesty about this remodel...the raw industrial feel faithfully preserved. Throw back those huge barn-like doors on rollers, and a cloth-capped watersider from another time might just walk into this Heritage New Zealand ‘building of interest'.

And the rough-hewn ceiling beams and trusses are from an age when there were enough old growth forests to supply timber in such size, quantity and affordability.

There's a nod to the needs of today – the fit-out includes a new kitchen, not a full commercial kitchen, upgraded bathrooms, improved access, ‘simple' lighting system and spectacular picture windows that bring the harbour almost lapping inside – as close as you will get to Tauranga Harbour without leaping in.

'We could have spent a hell of a lot more money, but the Commissioners just wanted to make it available and see how the community responded.”

It's six years since that community stepped inside The Cargo Shed. It was mothballed in 2017 after being deemed a seismic risk.

That caused a bit of a stink at the time because an arts and craft market, the almost exclusive user of The Cargo Shed, was booted and left homeless. The building was unsafe.

The job isn't done

Not now though. The concrete floor has been polished and spliced with seismic strengthening. And it's original – where you might step, 100 years of other people have gone before you.

What about the casual user – someone who might drop by, soak up some history, soak up some spectacular views, drink and eat? A bar and restaurant in other words.

'We've been approached by several people with exactly that concept. But the Commissioners' vision was see what the community wants first, and if it's not well used, then ultimately that's a great idea. If here's a demand for us to do it differently then we will look at it,” says Gareth.

The Cargo Shed – still the grand old lady of Dive Crescent. Photo: Brydie Thompson.

The job isn't done. Also on the drawing board is a walkway along the front or seaward side of The Cargo Shed.

Then those large picture windows will be popped and become doors, and there will be a genuine connection with the water.

'Yes, it's been pretty neat being part of conserving it,” says Gareth.

The Cargo Shed will be many things to many people. And while it might not have been his best work, a Harbour Board architect might be feeling a little smug right now.

Interested in booking The Cargo Shed? Email: cargoshed@tauranga.govt.nz or phone Baycourt (07) 577 7189.

The Cargo Shed, circa 1929. The image is looking north from the platform of the Tauranga railway station and showing the Harbour Board building and ships at Railway Wharf. Photo: Tauranga Heritage Collection 0644/08.