Grey Lynn Public Toilets: Historic Loos Get Posh Makeover

A porcelain transformation is underway as the historic Grey Lynn public toilets at 594 Great North Road get a 21st Century upgrade.

Great news, Grey Lynn residents! Work has commenced on renewing and upgrading the Grey Lynn public toilets at 594 Great North Road. These much-used facilities are getting a much-needed refresh.

Historic Grey Lynn Public Toilets

The existing toilets were built way back in 1943, so they’re certainly due for an upgrade. The good news is that while the exterior façade will remain largely unchanged to preserve the building’s historic character, the interior layout is being reconfigured to improve access and safety for users.

Some key details about the upgrade project

• The Business Grey Lynn Special Character Area Overlay applies to the property. The toilets are identified as a character-defining building within the Special Character area.
• The toilets require seismic remediation work. This involves creating a seismic gap between the existing building and the neighbouring Florets Bakery building to the north. The north wall of the public toilets building will be deconstructed and then rebuilt using the original bricks.
• The toilet layout is being changed to provide more floor area and better visibility in both the men’s and women’s restrooms. This will create a more open and safer configuration for users.
• Work commenced in March 2024 and is expected to be completed by July 2024, weather permitting.
• The project has been approved by the Waitematā Local Board.

So while there may be some temporary disruptions over the next few months as the work is carried out, Grey Lynn residents can look forward to having a modernised, safe, and accessible set of public toilets by the middle of the year.

The historic character of the building will be preserved, while the interior will be updated to better meet the needs of the community.

In the meantime, please bear with any inconvenience during the construction phase. The end result will be well worth it – a revitalised public amenity that the whole Grey Lynn community can be proud of.