Major Trust projects

Press, 23 September 1980, Page 17

Major Trust projects

Antrim House in Wellington (above) and Highwic in Auckland are two of the most important projects in the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, restoration programmes for the next year. The biggest is the completion of restoration work on Antrim House, which will become the Trust’s headquarters when staff move into it in December. Built in 1905 for Robert Hannah, the footwear manufacturer, Antrim House is one of Wellington’s best preserved large town houses of the Edwardian period. An important part of the restoration of Antrim House has been the acquisition of period furniture and fittings. These include such items as chandeliers, fire irons, and. sets of light switches. The upstairs remains in the 1940 s decor which was established after damage in the fire of July, 1940. At present, gas fired heating is being installed, walls are being relined and papered, and new carpets are being laid. When the house is ready, the grounds and part of the ground floor will be open to the public, including an information area with displays and photographs of .the building’s history and activities of the Trust.

Highwic, the historic property in Epsom, was bought by the Trust and Auckland City Council, both paying half of the purchase price of $250,000. Restoration and interior decorating of the early. English style house is almost finished and the trust will be making an announcement about its opening shortly. It was built in. 1862 for Albert Auckland, who arrived from Devonshire in 1849 and who became one of Auckland’s most prominent farmers and businessmen. The house, set in 1.1 hectares of gardens, lawns, and many fine trees, is built in the Gothic style, with steep dormer winddows, gables and ornamentation, and has vertical weatherboards and decorated barge boards. The older part of the house has casement window’s which go with the early English style. Adjoined to the house is the Milliard room built at the same time as the house, while the old stables are now used as a garage, with a storeroom at the rear. The main house contains a large' ballroom, large bedrooms with excellent fireplaces, arched passages, and a fine staircase.