Tai Tam Tuk Raw Water Pumping Station Senior Staff Quarters [1905- ]

Submitted by Admin on Mon, 11/04/2013 - 21:59
Current condition
In use
Date completed

Philk:

I walked Stage 7 of the HK trail the other week and noticed this house on the north side of the Red Hill Peninsula. Centamap just has it as "Quarters" but it is near to the Tai Tam Tuk pumping station. It looks too expensive to just be 'quarters'. Does anyone have any clues what it is or who lives there? I think it's #82 Tai Tam Reservoir Road?

80skid:

Tai Tam Senior Officers Quarters

full name, in true govt style, is Tai Tam Tuk Raw Water Pumping Station Senior Staff Quarters 

built in 1905, it's currently rented out by the Government Property Agency as a private residence. It's a declared monument, along with most of the other waterworks stuff round there

http://www.amo.gov.hk/graphics/monuments/88/Plan%2028.jpg

Photos that show this Place

2013

Comments

Interesting article here about Jack Sydney Flegg and his family. Jack Flegg was the engineer in charge of the pumping station pre World War 2 and was shot on the beach below by the Japanese in December 1941

There is very detailed information on this building (along with the other Tai Tam Reservoir staff quarters) here (dated Nov 2019) and photos/videos can also be found here.

The entire staff quarters compound is part of Batch VI of the Revitalisation Scheme (more details & photos here). Applications for revitalisation proposals closed in April 2020 and the result is due to be announced in the first half of 2021.

"The Senior Staff Quarters for the European Overseer is situated on a raised platform at the east end of the Pumping Station overlooking the Pumping Station, with the main north-east façade facing the Tai Tam Harbour. The Senior Staff Quarters consists of a two-storey main building and a single storey servants’ quarters. The exterior of the main building is symmetrical in general with the entrance porch and doorway centrally placed at the north-east façade, walls were painted in white with horizontal features highlighted in blue. The central portion of the roof is a hipped roof while the two sides are flat roofs with parapet walls. Some of the window openings have probably been altered, but the proportion of existing window openings at the north-west elevation with window openings on G/F taller than 1/F looks authentic. Internally, each floor consists mainly of two large rooms at the rear side with French doors opening to the two hallways at the front and north-west side respectively. The large rooms are finished with timber flooring, and originally each have a fireplace connecting to the chimney at the roof. The hallways are designed with large wooden windows and mosaic floor finishes which probably act as vestibules to enhance penetration of natural light and keep the interior cool in summer. There is an existing wooden staircase near the main entrance at the northeast side for circulation between the two floors. A covered walkway with pitched roof is constructed to connect the south-east side entrance of the main building to the servants’ quarters at the rear. The servants’ quarters is in L-shaped, the covered walkway extends to north-east façade of the servant’s quarters. The pitched roofs of the main building, servants’ quarters and covered walkway are finished with double-layered pan and roll tiles." (Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme - Tai Tam Tuk Raw Water Pumping Station Staff Quarters Compound - Resource Kit', Nov 2019, p.4)

(In 2019) "Currently, the Main Building of the Senior Staff Quarters appears to be in fair condition. There is newly applied paint on the external and internal walls. Windows have been repaired. However, timber floor in some area and some internal doors were not in good condition. Servants’ Quarters of the Senior Staff Quarters appears to be in good condition. There is newly applied paint on the external and internal walls and metal bar brackets." (Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme - Tai Tam Tuk Raw Water Pumping Station Staff Quarters Compound - Resource Kit', Nov 2019, p. 8)