Restoration of Kaiserbahnhof

On Sunday 16 February 2020 Peter Macky spoke to a full-house at Remuera Railway Station on the restoration of the historic Kaiserbahnhof in Halbe, about 40 km southeast of Berlin.

Kaiserbahnhof, built in 1865 for Kaiser Wilhelm I, was the private train station for the kaisers, a refreshment stop on the way to their hunting lodge. The design was by 19th-century architect August Orth, and the builder (developer) for the project was Henry Strousberg, the “railway king of his day”.

Today it is a working railway station in Berlin’s commuter belt, and since restoration provides public and event spaces.

Peter Macky, is an Aucklander and former lawyer, who lives and works for six months of the year in Germany. He first stumbled on the derelict railway station on a weekend bicycle ride to Halbe.  The bulding had been abandoned since the fall of the Berlin Wall.  Peter prompltly purchased the property and researched its history. He has spent ten years restoring the neglected building to its former glory.

On 18 August 2019 the project was completed

Peter’s experience and advice is invaluable for the ongoing preservation of our own Remuera Railway Station.