Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
A man whose parents gifted the iconic Begonia House to Wellington's Botanic Gardens has launched a fundraiser to save the tourist attraction.
Wayne Norwood's parents Sir Charles and Lady Rosina Norwood gifted the glass house in 1960.
The rose garden in front of it is named after Lady Rosina.
Wayne Norwood told Morning Report it is full of exotic and very rare plants not seen anywhere else in New Zealand.
It provided not only an educational purpose but people used it as a venue for weddings and celebrations.
"People have memories, very fond memories of Begonia House - if it's sound, why pull it down?"
Photo: Wellington City Council
Norwood said while he's started a fighting fund, the council have a role in fixing Begonia House.
"It was donated under the understanding that the council would maintain it. Now because of lack of maintenance they want to pull it down," he said.
"We need this council to understand that some of us do believe in heritage and that things of this nature are worth saving.
"Goodness gracious, it's the second most visited venue in Wellington from people from outside of Wellington - it's important."
The council thinks it may cost $20 million to fix but Norwood said the building itself was sounds and strengthened a few years ago.
"It needs some glass and a new heating system. That does not cost $20 million. So we have no idea where that figure comes from and what they're including in that figure."
In late November, Wellington councillors gave Begonia House a lifeline through an amendment that states the future of the building will be assessed after a review of it next year.
Council chief operating officer James Roberts previously said much of Begonia House was at the end of its life, and needed replacing rather than being "patched up".
The Begonia House - a potted history
1913: The Begonia House started in a potting shed in the nursery area, up behind what is now the visitor centre.
1924: The Begonia House was extended to cater for the crowds. One newspaper photo showed hundreds of people queuing up.
1933: A local men's tennis team named itself Begonia House. It is thought they were probably a group of gardeners or nearby residents who played on the garden's tennis courts.
1939: Lady Norwood offered 200 pounds - the equivalent of $20,000 to improve Begonia House but war put that on hold.
1960: The Norwoods put a further 20,000 pounds ($1.2 million in today's money) to build a new Begonia House. The winter garden and a tea house opened on 22 December 1960 by mayor Francis Kitts and Prime Minister Keith Holyoake.
1989: The Begonia house was extended to include a lily pond.
1994: The current tearooms, now Picnic Cafe, was built.
