The Peel St toilet building will have a single gender-neutral public toilet installed over the next two months. 

The 103-year-old building was earthquake-strengthened last year. 

Some further strengthening and fit out work will take about eight weeks and will include a single-pan unisex accessible toilet within the building, says Gisborne District Council acting director of liveable communities, Kerry Hudson. 

“While the work is under way, there are two portaloos on site for public use.” 

The building was poised for demolition in the late 1990s and the Bright St toilets, which opened in 1998, were built as the alternative public toilets in the central city. 

“But in February 1999, Tairāwhiti resident Luke Donnelly obtained an Environment Court order to stop the demolition — allegedly just as the bulldozers were being unloaded,” Hudson said. 

“The Environment Court agreed the toilets were of heritage value, even though they were not listed or scheduled, and that they should be protected.” 

The public toilets were built in 1921 to a design by then-borough engineer J. A. McDonald. It is the last known building in New Zealand designed by the world-recognised engineer, who also designed the Peel St and Gladstone Rd bridges. 

The architecture has been categorised as “stripped classical” with an underlying Edwardian style. The stripped definition comes because some of the decorated parapets have been removed over time as they would have potentially been hazardous if they fell. 

The building used to have two venting domes at the top, which earned it the nickname “Taj Mahal”. They were removed around 1967. Original windows to the north and west were removed in or about 1972. 

“Businesses in the immediate area have been advised of the work,” Hudson said.