Demolition Approved for Historic Invercargill Briscoes Building Three Years After Fire

The fire-damaged Dee Street landmark will be demolished after a resource consent decision, with conditions requiring heritage protection and salvage.

By Webfit News | Invercargill | 31 October 2026

Invercargill’s historic former Briscoes building is set for demolition after the city council granted resource consent, more than three years after a devastating fire left the Dee Street property severely damaged.

The building at 104–106 Dee Street has been surrounded by shipping containers and subject to footpath restrictions since the September 2023 fire, disrupting access and affecting nearby businesses.

Independent hearing commissioner Paula Costello approved the demolition following a hearing on 15 October. Her decision, released on Friday, considered the building’s structural condition, heritage significance, options for retaining it and the costs involved.

Built in 1882, the property is listed as a Category 2 historic place by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and is protected under the Invercargill City District Plan.

Council Welcomes Long-Awaited Decision

Invercargill Acting Mayor Grant Dermody welcomed the approval, acknowledging the prolonged disruption to the city centre.

“The building has been a blight on our city centre for the past three years, and we know its condition has had a significant impact on surrounding businesses and the wider area,” Dermody said.

He acknowledged public frustration over the time taken to reach a decision.

“It has been a long road to get to this point, and we understand the frustration around how long the process has taken. This is a positive step forward and provides a clear pathway towards a resolution.”

Heritage Protections Required

The demolition approval comes with conditions requiring significant heritage features and materials to be identified, recorded and salvaged where safely possible.

The consent also requires archaeological monitoring, vibration controls, protection of neighbouring buildings, and environmental and traffic management measures.

Any replacement building must comply with the Invercargill City Centre Heritage Guidelines 2025, including requirements for heritage design and interpretation.

Demolition Timeline Yet to Be Confirmed

Once demolition is completed, the site must be cleared, made safe and kept tidy until a replacement building is constructed.

The council has not announced when demolition will begin or when redevelopment is expected.

The approval clears a major regulatory hurdle for a property that has remained a prominent reminder of the 2023 fire, although the timing of its removal remains uncertain.

Source: Invercargill City Council media release, 31 October 2026.