Dereliction

The other day the sun was shining and I hadn't left the house except to work for two weeks, so I caught a bus down to the nearby coast to take some photos.
I found myself on the street below the abandoned, derelict Catholic Girl's School on the hill above the local shops - and to my surprise saw the gate was open.


I remember exploring the site 25 years ago with a former boyfriend just after the school closed down. Later it was used as an art school then a wedding venue, until the council ruled it was too much of an earthquake risk to be even approached.
Here it is in its heyday:

Sacred Heart Convent, Island Bay, Wellington. Ref: 1/2-070494-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23075064

I was surprised at the open gate, but assumed that maybe they left dog walkers etc use the grounds to deter vandals.
To say it was spooky would be an understatement.











Then I saw the sign that said "no trespassing" and "dangerous building: do not approach".
So I left. ;-)