A group of concerned Devonport citizens formed Devonport Heritage five years ago to lobby for the preservation of the unique historic value of Devonport precincts. The aim is to encourage the preservation and enhancement of the built heritage, its scale and its setting in the natural environment. Submissions are made to the North Shore City Council Annual Plan and conservation management strategies. The Devonport Ward Planner submits to our sub-committee applications for dispensation for building consents and alterations to historic listed buildings for comment and recommendations.
Public awareness is encouraged by meetings with invited speakers e.g.
Public Library archivist demonstrating how the history of a house can be traced through rates records and display of panoramic views of Devonport showing changes over the past century. We have recently received a small grant from Rotary to develop a package for homeowners with advice on renovations in keeping with the historic architectural aspects of their house. A grant from the Devonport Community Board is to be used to preserve and display objects from the Devonport Borough Council in the local library. To acknowledge that the suburb of Devonport has a recognisable heritage value deriving from its pre-European history, its early days of European settlement and its continuity as a residential, seaside suburb for more than a century. From the harbour, Devonport still looks much the same at the end of the century as it did at the beginning.