The popular Raglan cafe known as The Shack is getting a makeover with installation of a longer verandah in Bow Street and Wainui Road. As the building has a heritage rating in the District Plan, the NZHPT had to be consulted and give its approval before construction could commence.The new verandah is in sympathy with the style of the original verandah.
Land agent Sydney Dando built the building at 19 Bow Street on the corner of Wainui Rd and Bow St in 1902. This predates the present Harbourview Hotel which was built in 1905. 19 Bow street has a B heritage rating in the Waikato District Plan for its general form, materials of street facades, its hipped gabled roof, false parapet and return verandah.
After being used as a land agency for many years, 19 Bow Street later became Langley’s Auction Mart & Bookstore. Until 2009 it was the Tongue & Groove café. Early surfers made it a crash pad at night and it seems it was known at that time as the shack and why it sis now called The Shack.