Pub makes way for embassy at last

Last updated 05:00 20/06/2009

ROSS GIBLIN/The Dominion Post

EYESORE TO GO: The Thai Government has owned this old tavern in Molesworth St, Thorndon, for 15 years.

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The wheels of Thai bureaucracy have finally turned - 15 years after buying the old Thorndon Tavern, the Thai Government is about to start converting it into a flash new embassy building.

Netting fences and a sign announcing the project have sprouted outside the derelict Wellington pub just a block up Molesworth St from Parliament.

The 1970s tavern was bought for $3.6million in 1994 and the original plan was to establish a new embassy on the site the following year. But plans were shelved when the Asian economic crisis struck and, in subsequent years, the tavern has been repeatedly vandalised.

Wellington real estate agent Ian Mackie, acting as project consultant for the embassy, said work was about to start on a refurbishment and extension.

"They were conscious that it was a bit of a bloody eyesore, but it looks like they've got approvals from Bangkok and they want to make the formal announcement and make an event of it.

"All I can say is that designs are being finalised at the moment ... and it's going to be a major improvement of the site." He expected work to be completed in 2011.

Ambassador Oum Maolanon was very happy to see it was finally going ahead, Mr Mackie said.

The property now has a capital value of $9 million but has cost the Thai Government a small fortune in holding costs. Rates alone cost more than $100,000 a year.

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