LATE SIR HENRY BRETT’S RESIDENCE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 260, 3 August 1928, Page 10

LATE SIR HENRY BRETT’S RESIDENCE

TO BECOME ANGLICAN GIRLS’ HOME Dominion Special Service. Auckland, August 2. Te Kiteroa, the well-known residence of the late Sir Henry Brett, on Hillcrest, between Lake Takapuna and the sea, is to be used as a children’s home, and will replace the present Anglican Girls’ Home in Richmond Road. The property, which includes about three acres of land, has been made a free gift by the legatees in the late Sir Henry Brett’s estate to assist one of the most deserving movements in Auckland. The house commands unrivalled views of Hauraki Gulf and of Auckland City and harbour. Ample grounds slope to Lake Pupuke, and were .planted by the late Sir Henry Brett, who in his lifetime was a keen horticulturist. The property was left in trust for the family of the late Sir Henry Brett, and on the suggestion of Lady Brett and Mr. Arthur Brett, the eldest son, the eight legatees to whom the property was bequeathed decided that the unique position of the property made it especially suitable as a home for homeless children. It was therefore decided to offer it to the Church of England of the Auckland Province as a home for orphaned and destitute girls, and the offer was very gladly accepted by Archbishop Averill. The home has been made immediately available, and steps have already been taken to adapt the house and grounds to their future use. Dormitories are to be built and internal alterations made.

“The home will be known as “Brett Memorial Home,” said Canon Grant Cowen this morning. He added that when additions and alterations were made the home would accommodate considerably more children than were at present in the Richmond Road Home, which it would replace. The majority" of the children came from squalid and unhappy homes, and quite irrespective of denomination, they were cared for and brought up until they were ready to go out as domestic servants. The sum of £2OOO would be necessary for the conversion of Te Kiteroa for its new use, and an appeal would be made to defray the cost.