Bunker restoration complete

Mike Pettit addresses the crowd during the dedication ceremony marking the completion of the fuel bunker restoration.

A small dedication ceremony marked completion of restoration of the aviation fuel bunker overlooking Lake Te Koo Utu in Cambridge, reflecting the importance of the Aviation Reserve 9 (AR9) secret bunker in the country’s military history.

Joining the mayor and other guests at the event on September 3 were representatives of the family of Richard Edward Isaacs, who was killed at the site in 1943 when fire broke out and destroyed four huts in the early hours of October 14.

Possibly due to secrecy surrounding the location of the bunker, the Isaacs family had always thought Richard died at Trentham Military Camp near Wellington, so it was news to them when community board member Julie Epps tracked them down to invite them to Cambridge for last Monday’s dedication ceremony. Just 20 when he died, the fire was apparently caused by Richard smoking in bed, which great-nephew Tom Isaacs said was a lesson to everyone not to do that.

The family of Richard Edward Isaacs, pictured at the recent ceremony.

Community board chair Mike Pettit ran through the history of AR9, dispelling the myth that the pump house was a bomb shelter with a tunnel that ran to the town hall, providing an escape route for the mayor in case of an air raid. This idea got a joking thumbs up from Mayor Jim Mylchreest, however sadly for Jim it was an urban myth – the tunnel only runs 40 metres into the hillside to the fuel tank.

Mike thanked Merv Cronin, who took the restoration of the fuel bunker to the Cambridge Community Board for their consideration, as well as C&R Developments, Waipa Civil, local historian Dave Homewood, council’s community facilities manager Bruce Airey and the camouflage painters from the community board and Cambridge Primary School.

A blueprint map of the AR9 area from the National Archives, showing position of the guardhouse, railway, and tank.

More Recent News

News in brief

Minor delays expected Drivers will experience lane closures next week for surfacing repairs around the new roundabout at the intersection of State Highways 1 and 29 in Piarere. On Monday the SH1 northbound (Hamilton exit)…

Pair bridged the gap

She’s a straight-talking Cambridge farmer and agribusiness consultant with a sharp wit and a love of a good post-game wine. He’s a seasoned grand master from Te Aroha who’s been playing bridge since 1970. Today,…

Lights on at Te Awa

The third edition of Te Awa River Ride’s Light Night will take place next month, as artists continue to add new sculptures along the popular trail. Te Awa River Ride Charitable Trust trail manager Sarah…

Licence renewal stalled

The owner of a Cambridge restaurant has been given a month to make significant changes to its ownership structure before Waipā District Council Licensing Committee will consider renewing its on-licence. Jaspal Grewal, co-owner of Koi…