‘Mansion’ ideas wanted

Press, 2 September 1980, Page 6

‘Mansion’ ideas wanted

, ? . public, will get a ■chance to help decide, the k .fiiture of “Hollylea,” also known as “McLean Man;siOn,” the former dental jiurses’ home in Manchester :SSt,reet. . ."‘.A letter from, the Lands and Survey Department •,a,bdut the old building was discussed at a meeting' of the Christchurch City Coun-l-.qil. housing committee •yesterday. The department intended to “dispose” of the building and is “testing the ■ waters as to its future,” said

the committee chairman (Cr Mollie Clark). “Hollylea” was built by a retired station owner, / Mr Alan McLean,, and is believed to be the largest Wooden dwelling in New Zealand, with 38 -rooms and more than 2100 sq m of floor space. It is also' known as the “Mac Lean Mansion,” to distinguish it from " the “Hollylea” in Fendalton.j In 1979 the 78-yeartold building needed an estimated $21,000 worth .of external painting. Electricity bills last year totalled $6OOO. \ '

The building is zoned R 4 possible uses in this area include shops, flats, and restaurants,-' ■ The chairman of the Canterbury branch of the Historic Places Trust (Mr J. L. Hewland) said that the trust was very interested in preserving the building, “because of * its' architectural value and as an example , of a townhouse built by a wealthy sheep farmer at that period.” The matter was referred to the town planning committee;, .» '/.■