ASME is indeed fortunate to own its own building. This was the original building from the Swimarama site moved to Peterson Reserve and extensively remodelled and added to over the years. It is now a two storey building with upstairs meeting room, various facilities and verandah. The ground floor is a basement storage & workshop area and a separate adjacent building houses two toilets. All buildings are protected by monitored alarm and window grilles.
Meeting Room
On the upper level, the bulk of the open space provides a meeting place and space for about 50 persons to be comfortably seated. Two large, heavy tables provide space for items to be placed for discussion at meetings. In addition, there are a number of foldaway tables which can be used when more table space is required. A modern image projector and screen is used via a communications cabinet to show Videos, DVDs or computer generated information. The communications equipment includes a sound system that can be used to amplify speakers during meetings.
Library
This is on the upper level at the north east end.
When the club was formed in 1959 it took over the assets of the original club which included a number of volumes of the Model Engineer magazine. After the shift to Peterson Reserve these were gradually bound professionally, and by 1985 there were over 100 bound volumes.
The Society has for many years now subscribed to the British ‘Model Engineer’, the American ‘Live Steam’, ‘Engineering In Miniature’, the ‘Australian Model Engineer’, and the ‘Model Engineers’ Workshop’ magazines. All these volumes are bound professionally before being made available to members
As well as the magazines, the library has a considerable number of model engineering books covering various related subjects. There is also a complete set of the modern Workshop Practical Series, which are about the use of machines and materials, and a number of Videos & DVDs mostly to do with railways. In addition a range of plans of various models are held by the library for member’s reference.
Museum
Along a part of the south wall on the upper level is a cabinet containing a number of models made in earlier years (some before ASME began) and covering a wide range of different types of models. It serves in part to show the breadth of the model engineering hobby and also examples made using methods of old.
Kitchen
At the western end of the upper floor level is the kitchen. Equipped with all the normal facilities of a residential facility, it is used to provide light refreshments during the various meetings held at the clubhouse. It has also been used to prepare and serve meals during Easter Open Weekends, Christmas and other Social Functions of the Society.
Verandah
On the upper level, a north-facing verandah of modest proportions provides a fine view over the miniature railway, the car park, the Panmure Basin and Mount Wellington beyond. This is a comfortable place from which members can “watch trains go by” or the other activities that take place on the Basin such as sailing yachts.
Basement
On the ground floor, a high stud basement provides a good size exhibition & workshop space. At the west end is a store room and fireproof archives room with a dehumidifier where the club records and a spare set of bound magazine volumes are stored. At the east end is a separate room which is used by Scale Marine Modellers for workshop & storage purposes.
Toilets
ASME is fortunate to have its own toilet block adjacent to the Clubhouse. This provides separate facilities for men and women.
Panmure Basin
The Society’s buildings and improvements are situated on land at Peterson Reserve owned by Auckland Council and Transpower with a long term license for non-exclusive use for the Society’s authorised purposes. Peterson Reserve is part of the wider Panmure Basin recreational area, which includes a water ski club, sailing club, walking track and childrens playgrounds.