Monte Cecilia Park
Introduction |
Pah Homestead |
TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre |
Site characteristics |
Image gallery |
History
History
Land and homestead at Monte Cecilia Park
Early history
Scientists believe the site's geology reflects the basaltic scoria tuff associated with the Three Kings volcano, one of the many volcanoes in the
immediate area, which form part of the greater Auckland isthmus volcanic field.
The site has cultural significance to local iwi, as the area once contained the Whataroa Pa.
The original 162 ha property was purchased from Maori by early Auckland settler and land dealer William Hart in 1843. It was later sold to Thomas
Russell in 1870, before James Williamson purchased it and built the Pah homestead as a private home.
Surrounding the park are the Monte Cecilia Primary School, Franciscan's Friary, Marcellin College,
Selwyn Heights Retirement Village, and Liston Village
including the historic Pah Stables.
A heritage conservation plan, an archaeological and geophysical assessment, a cultural heritage overview for Whataroa Pa, and a landscape
history and tree assessment have been produced to help better understand the Maori and European heritage of the site including Pah homestead.
Pah Homestead
The homestead itself was built between 1877 and 1879 as Auckland businessman James Williamson's "gentleman's residence".
Designed by Architect Edward Mahoney using the then fashionable Italianate style, the homestead was the largest home in the Auckland province
at the time. The complex house 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.
The original tree-lined drive down from Pah Road to the house also remains largely intact, although the lower parts of it now run through private
properties adjoining the park.
After Williamson's death in 1888, the lavish establishment was taken over by the Bank of New Zealand and leased to the Anglican Church. The homestead
subsequently housed St John’s School, under Canon Percy Smallfield, from 1902 until 1912. In 1913, the Sisters of Mercy and the Roman Catholic Bishop of
Auckland, Henry William Cleary purchased the homestead.
Mother Cecilia Maher, together with seven other Sisters, were the first religious women to arrive in New Zealand in April 1850 from Ireland. During its
ownership by the Sisters of Mercy and later the Catholic Diocese, the house served as an orphanage, novitiate house (for instructing novices to the Mercy
Order), boarding school and emergency housing.
The council purchased the homestead in 2002 and it has been extensively restored and adapted prior to the opening of the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre
in 2010. The attention to heritage detail has ensured the building has been faithfully restored, while benefiting from hidden modern services, security
systems and structural strengthening. The restoration was granted a heritage award by the New Zealand Institute of Architects in its 2010 awards
programme.
Establishment of the park
In 1997, Auckland City was approached by a property owner about a potential 50 lot residential subdivision on the site. In 1998, Auckland City
commissioned a feasibility study on acquisition options for a new public park in Hillsborough. The study identified a number of properties that would,
collectively, create the nucleus of a mature public park. Meetings were subsequently held with the owners to describe the public park proposal, and
ascertain their aspirations for the land.
In May 1998, Auckland City Council endorsed the concept of a premier park. Discussions regarding acquisition were held. By August 1998, significant
progress had been made. Given the financial significance of these transactions, Auckland City published a notice of requirement for designation. This
notice was published to ensure that a large area in multiple ownership could be acquired over time, and to ensure that the natural features of the site
were protected from future development.
Significant progress has been made since the notice of requirement was lodged. The following table indicates completed acquisitions and the area
acquired:
| Date |
Aquisition |
Area |
| December 2000 |
Marcellin Hall
(Marist Brothers) |
1.65 ha |
| June 2001 |
Catholic Land
(Catholic Diocese) |
4.53 ha |
| June 2001 |
Masonics Land
(Northern Masonic Association) |
1.00 ha |
| September 2002 |
Pah Homestead
(Catholic Diocese) |
0.54 ha |
| December 2002 |
Marist Land
(Marist Brothers) |
4.33 ha |
| August 2006 |
20 and 22 Korma Road |
0.23 ha |
| December 2007 |
24 Korma Road |
0.13 ha |
| June 2008 |
595 Mt Albert Road |
0.24 ha |
| June 2009 |
615 and 615a Mt Albert Road |
1.6936 ha |
| April 2010 |
70 Hillsborough Road |
0.0862 ha |
| November 2010 |
64 Hillsborough Road |
0.1419 ha |
| |
total |
14.5717 ha |
| + |
Seymour Park
(Gifted as reserve) |
2.4 ha |
The Auckland Council considers future purchases as opportunities arise.
Naming the park
In 2004, the local and wider community was invited to participate in the naming
process for the park. Over 50 suggestions were received, and after a
short-listing process, the public was then given the opportunity to vote for one
of four preferred names. The most popular name was Monte Cecilia. The park was
officially named and opened at a ceremony on 25 September 2004.
Updated December 2010