Pah Homestead
Encyclopedia
The Pah Homestead is a historic stately home located in the Auckland
suburb of Hillsborough
in New Zealand
. It is currently being restored by the Auckland City Council
, which owns it, as part of its plans to develop the surrounding Monte Cecilia Park into a premier park for the city.
and to One Tree Hill
.
The original 162ha
property was purchased from Māori by early Auckland settler and land dealer William Hart in 1843. It was sold to Thomas Russell in 1870, before James Williamson purchased it and built The Pah as a private home.
The homestead itself remains largely as it was built, with almost all of its original door and window joinery, elaborate ceiling roses, parquet floors and marble fireplaces intact. It is better known today as the Monte Cecilia House and at various times has served as an orphanage, a novitiate house and boarding school.
After Williamson's death in 1888, the lavish establishment was taken over by the Bank of New Zealand
and leased to the Anglican church, and was purchased by the Sisters of Mercy in 1913. More recently, Monte Cecilia House was used as a temporary residence for the homeless and new immigrants, but this operation has been relocated to new premises in Mangere
.
Surrounding the park are various established uses including Monte Cecilia Primary School, the Franciscan
's Friary, Marcellin College, Roskill Masonic Hospital, Liston Village including the historic Pah Stables.
In September 2002 Pah Homestead was purchased by the Auckland City Council as part of council plans to develop the surrounding estate into a premier park for the city, Monte Cecilia Park. The council developed a heritage conservation plan, an archaeological and geophysical assessment and a cultural heritage overview for Whataroa Pa. A landscape history and tree assessment were produced to help better understand the Māori and European heritage of the site.
Auckland City worked with other groups and organisations like New Zealand Historic Places Trust
and specialist heritage architects Matthews & Matthews Architects Ltd. to ensure the renovation is of a high standard. These works were undertaken by NZ Strong Construction, an Auckland construction company specializing in unique projects such as this.
Refurbishment of exterior joinery and façade is now completed, with drainage works and fire protection undertaken to prevent further deterioration of the building.
The building now houses the James Wallace Art Trust's collection of New Zealand art, which is valued at NZ$50 million. Called the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre, it opened to the public in August 2010.
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
suburb of Hillsborough
Hillsborough, Auckland
Hillsborough is an Auckland, New Zealand suburb.Hillsborough is under the local governance of the Auckland City Council. According to the 2001 census, Hillsborough has a population of 9912....
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is currently being restored by the Auckland City Council
Auckland City Council
Auckland City Council was the local government authority representing Auckland City, New Zealand, and was amalgamated into the Auckland Council on 1 November 2010. It was an elected body representing the 404,658 residents of the city...
, which owns it, as part of its plans to develop the surrounding Monte Cecilia Park into a premier park for the city.
History
The homestead was built between 1877 and 1879 as Auckland businessman James Williamson's "gentleman's residence" and was one of the largest and finest homes in Auckland at that time. The tree-lined drive to Pah Road remains largely intact, although parts of it now run through private properties adjoining the proposed park. The grounds include some of the finest exotic trees in Auckland and there are views to the Manukau HarbourManukau Harbour
Manukau Harbour is the second largest natural harbour in New Zealand by area. It is located to the southwest of the Auckland isthmus, and is an arm of the Tasman Sea.-Geography:...
and to One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill, New Zealand
One Tree Hill is a 182 metre volcanic peak located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is an important memorial place for both Māori and other New Zealanders...
.
The original 162ha
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
property was purchased from Māori by early Auckland settler and land dealer William Hart in 1843. It was sold to Thomas Russell in 1870, before James Williamson purchased it and built The Pah as a private home.
The homestead itself remains largely as it was built, with almost all of its original door and window joinery, elaborate ceiling roses, parquet floors and marble fireplaces intact. It is better known today as the Monte Cecilia House and at various times has served as an orphanage, a novitiate house and boarding school.
After Williamson's death in 1888, the lavish establishment was taken over by the Bank of New Zealand
Bank of New Zealand
Bank of New Zealand is one of New Zealand’s largest banks and has been operating continuously in the country since the first office was opened in Auckland in October 1861 followed shortly after by the first branch in Dunedin in December 1861...
and leased to the Anglican church, and was purchased by the Sisters of Mercy in 1913. More recently, Monte Cecilia House was used as a temporary residence for the homeless and new immigrants, but this operation has been relocated to new premises in Mangere
Mangere
Māngere is one of the larger suburbs in South Auckland, in northern New Zealand.The suburb is located on flat land at the northeastern shore of the Manukau Harbour, to the northwest of the centre of Manukau city and 15 kilometres south of Auckland city centre...
.
Surrounding the park are various established uses including Monte Cecilia Primary School, the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
's Friary, Marcellin College, Roskill Masonic Hospital, Liston Village including the historic Pah Stables.
In September 2002 Pah Homestead was purchased by the Auckland City Council as part of council plans to develop the surrounding estate into a premier park for the city, Monte Cecilia Park. The council developed a heritage conservation plan, an archaeological and geophysical assessment and a cultural heritage overview for Whataroa Pa. A landscape history and tree assessment were produced to help better understand the Māori and European heritage of the site.
Restoration
The council upgraded the Pah Homestead roof as part of its commitment to protecting and preserving heritage buildings in Auckland city. The restoration involved weatherproofing, reinforcing the structure of the roof and some seismic upgrading. The council selected materials matching the original roof like English slate tiles and rolled lead.Auckland City worked with other groups and organisations like New Zealand Historic Places Trust
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
and specialist heritage architects Matthews & Matthews Architects Ltd. to ensure the renovation is of a high standard. These works were undertaken by NZ Strong Construction, an Auckland construction company specializing in unique projects such as this.
Refurbishment of exterior joinery and façade is now completed, with drainage works and fire protection undertaken to prevent further deterioration of the building.
The building now houses the James Wallace Art Trust's collection of New Zealand art, which is valued at NZ$50 million. Called the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre, it opened to the public in August 2010.