Homewood Avenue Croquet Pavilion, Summer House

Homewood Avenue Croquet Pavilion, Homewood Summer House

50 Homewood Avenue, Karori, Wellington
Image: A Dangerfield, NZHPT (2012)
Image: A Dangerfield, NZHPT (2012)
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  • Constructed

    1908

  • Architect(s)

    Joshua Charlesworth

  • Builder(s)

    Unknown

  • The Homewood Croquet Pavilion is an elegant and appealing ‘summerhouse’ that is notable for the quality of its design, materials, workmanship and ornamentation. It is an architectural ‘folly’ that was designed to emphasise the grandeur and wealth of the Homewood estate. 

    This building is held in high public esteem despite being hidden from the street. It is well known as the home of the British High Commissioner and in the past it was the site of a number of fêtes, garden parties, and charity events. 

    The Homewood estate is associated with a succession of leading figures in the legal, political, commercial, social, and diplomatic life of Wellington and New Zealand. It played an important role in the development of Karori as a suburb, and the Garden is associated with Katherine Mansfield.  


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  • close History

    • There is little information to be found on the history of the Homewood Avenue Croquet Pavilion. Despite this dearth of information the pavilion is an appealing building that is symbolic of the wealth and status for which eastern Karori was, and to some extents still is, well known. The pavilion is also a reminder of the elegant social occasions that were attended by Wellington’s social elite.

      The history of the Croquet Pavilion is tied to the history of the Homewood house. The first building to be constructed on the site was a wooden cottage for Henry Chapman, who had moved to New Zealand from England in 1843 after being offered the position of Judge of the Supreme Court. In 1844 he purchased land (Section 35) in Karori for £325. The house was built in 1847 using timber from the property, mostly native timbers including Hinau, Kahikatea, Miro, Rata, and Rewarewa. In 1852 the Chapman family moved to Victoria in Australia, selling their property to John and Henrietta Johnston. The Johnston’s made some additions to the cottage built by Chapman, ‘modernising’ it and making more fashionable.

      In 1888 the eldest son of the Johnston’s, Walter who was MP for Manawatu 1871-1884 and a cabinet minister 1881-1884, acquired the house and sold it to his brother Charles. Charles by this time had ten children, and owned another large home in Hobson Street. In 1889 Charles was elected to Mayor of Wellington and Homewood was to be the summer home for the family. The house, at this time, was still simply a large cottage rather than the stately home of a Mayor. In 1902 it was announced that Charles was going to build a large house in Karori upon the old site of Homewood. He invited Joshua Charlesworth, who had recently won the competition to design the Wellington Town Hall, to draw up the plans for a new house. The Croquet Pavilion was built some time during the period that Homewood belonged to Charles John Johnston and was likely also designed by architect Joshua Charlesworth.

      The NZHPT argue that the pavilion is likely to have been built in 1908 as “newspaper accounts of the numerous functions held at Homewood make no mention of a summerhouse” until that year. NZHPT also note that

      “…the Johnston’s were famous for their hospitality, holding charitable events in their picturesque garden, as well as hosting important dignitaries and family occasions which attracted the elite of Wellington society. Being located next to the croquet lawn the building was used by spectators during early twentieth century tournaments held at Homewood, and was the destination for those seeking tea and strawberries and cream during summer parties…

      …In 1932 Benjamin and Lucy Sutherland took ownership of Homewood, which had been subdivided down to a two acre section. It was then that Homewood’s impressive landscaped gardens seem to have largely taken shape, with the summerhouse being retained. Sutherland's Self Help Co-operative Limited was a successful New Zealand grocery store chain. Like the Johnston’s, the Sutherlands often staged open days and other events in Homewood’s garden as part of their charitable efforts. Sutherland’s widow sold the property to the British Government as the residence of the British High Commissioner to New Zealand in 1958. The pavilion remains a valued aspect of Homewood’s garden and as such was restored in 1988.”

      The pavilion symbolises the status and wealth of the Johnston family and is a reminder of the elegant social occasions for which the house was noted in its heyday, hosting fêtes, garden parties, and charity events.

    • Modifications close
      • unknown
      • (Original plans not available at time of writing)
      • c.1908
      • Original construction of Pavilion
    • Occupation History close
      • 1889
      • Charles Johnston
      • 1928
      • Lucy and Benjamin Sutherland
      • 1958
      • British Government, British High Commission
  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      The croquet pavilion is constructed of timber with a corrugated iron roof. The eclectic style of the L-Shaped pavilion incorporates Classical and Gothic Revival elements. The Classical influence can be seen in the axial planning, the rounded arches and the use of acroteria. The pitched roof, the highly decorative cast iron work, and the wooden fretwork can all be attributed to Gothic Revival influences.

      The pavilion is extensively decorated with cast iron. The cresting on the roof ridges, the crockets which adjoin acroteria at the peak and ends of the gable, the zigzag valance attached to the fascia boards are all crafted from cast iron. Fan like metal spikes are used to join the wooden arches to the fretwork brackets, attached to the square posts which support the roof. The south façade that faces the croquet green is open but the remaining facades are clad with tongue and groove boards.

    • Materials close

      Timber, cast iron, corrugated iron.

    • Setting close

      The Homewood Croquet Pavilion is located in landscaped gardens that include a number of other outbuildings, masonry walls, and pedestrian and vehicular circulation routes. The Pavilion, although not visible from the street, is a part of the most significant residence in Karori and makes a valuable contribution to Karori as a suburb and the Homewood Avenue area.

  • close Cultural Value

    The Homewood Croquet Pavilion is an elegant and appealing ‘summerhouse’ that is notable for the quality of its design, materials, workmanship and ornamentation. It is an architectural ‘folly’ that was designed to emphasise the grandeur and wealth of the Homewood estate.

    This building is held in high public esteem despite being hidden from the street. It is well known as the home of the British High Commissioner and in the past it was the site of a number of fêtes, garden parties, and charity events.

    The Homewood estate is associated with a succession of leading figures in the legal, political, commercial, social, and diplomatic life of Wellington and New Zealand. It played an important role in the development of Karori as a suburb, and the Garden is associated with Katherine Mansfield.

    • Aesthetic Value close

      • Architectural

        Does the item have architectural or artistic value for characteristics that may include its design, style, era, form, scale, materials, colour, texture, patina of age, quality of space, craftsmanship, smells, and sounds?

        The Homewood Croquet Pavilion is an elegant and appealing ‘summerhouse’ that is notable for the quality of its design, materials, workmanship and ornamentation. It is an architectural ‘folly’ that was designed to emphasise the grandeur and wealth of the Homewood estate.

      • Group

        Is the item part of a group of buildings, structures, or sites that taken together have coherence because of their age, history, style, scale, materials, or use?

        This building can be looked at as a part of a group of buildings that are found on the property that have a coherence due to their age, history, style, and materials used.

      • Townscape

        Does the item have townscape value for the part it plays in defining a space or street; providing visual interest; its role as a landmark; or the contribution it makes to the character and sense of place of Wellington?

        Homewood contributes significantly to the character of Karori and is closely associated with the settlement and development of the suburb. The Croquet Pavilion is an important part of the history of the estate, and makes a strong contribution to the setting of the main house.

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

        Is the item associated with an important person, group, or organisation?

        The Homewood Pavilion is a summerhouse or ‘folly’ that was built to adorn the grounds of this grand Edwardian house. It is likely to have been used for a number of social occasions including fêtes, garden parties, and charity events.

      • Association

        Is the item associated with an important historic event, theme, pattern, phase, or activity?

        Homewood estate is closely associated with the development of Wellington and particularly Karori as a suburb. It has been associated with a succession of leading figures in the legal, political, commercial, social, and diplomatic life of Wellington and New Zealand. Homewood is also associated with the work of Katherine Mansfield. 

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

        Does the item have archaeological value for its ability to provide scientific information about past human activity?

        The original building on the site was constructed in 1847 meaning that the area has archaeological value (under the HPA 1993).

    • Social Value close

      • Identity Sense Of Place Continuity

        Is the item a focus of community, regional, or national identity? Does the item contribute to sense of place or continuity?

        The building is an architectural ‘folly’ that was designed to emphasise the grandeur and wealth of the Homewood estate. It is located in a tranquil garden setting and contributes to the identity and sense of place of the Homewood Estate.

      • Public Esteem

        Is the item held in high public esteem?

        Homewood is held in high public esteem despite being hidden from the street. The house was the residence of several upper-middleclass families and the gardens, in the past, were the site of a number of fêtes, garden parties, and charity events. The pavilion is now associated with the official residence of the British High Commissioner.

      • Sentiment Connection

        Is the item a focus of community sentiment and connection?

        Homewood is a well known by local residents as one of the oldest buildings in Karori, as a grand house, and as the official residence of the British High Commissioner. The house, gardens and associated buildings are likely to be a focus for community sentiment and connection.

      • Symbolic Commemorative Traditional Spiritual

        Does the item have symbolic, commemorative, traditional, spiritual or other cultural value for the community who has used and continues to use it?

        The pavilion makes a strong contribution to the grounds of the Homewood Estate. This estate has some symbolic and cultural value as the official residence of the British High Commissioner to New Zealand.

    • Level of Cultural Heritage Significance close

      • Authentic

        Does the item have authenticity or integrity because it retains significant fabric from the time of its construction or from later periods when important additions or modifications were carried out?

        This building has authenticity as it has remained largely unmodified since its construction.

      • Local Regional National International

        Is the item important for any of the above characteristics at a local, regional, national, or international level?

        The Homewood estate is associated with a succession of leading figures in the legal, political, commercial, social, and diplomatic life of Wellington and New Zealand. It played an important role in the development of Karori as a suburb, and the Garden is associated with Katherine Mansfield.  For these reasons the Pavilion is of national importance.  

      • Rare

        Is the item rare, unique, unusual, seminal, influential, or outstanding?

        The pavilion is a rare example of a surviving Edwardian summerhouse or ‘folly’.

      • Representative

        Is the item a good example of the class it represents?

        This building is a representative example of decorative Gothic and Neo Classical elements being combined on a small scale domestic building.

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      11/ 154.2

    • Legal Description

      Lot 2 DP 83090

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      1/ 1369

    • Archaeological Site

      Pre 1900 building on the site – Archaeological site likely

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      To be assessed

  • close Additional Information
    • Sources close
      • Astwood, Karen. ‘Homewood Croquet Pavilion / Summerhouse’ NZHPT website accessed January 2014
      • Historic Places Trust Architect Biography, ‘Joshua Charlesworth,’ accessed march 12 2013,
      • Wellington City Council, “Homewood Croquet Pavilion”, Heritage Building Inventory 1995: Non-Residential Buildings. (Wellington City Council, 1995).
    • Technical Documentation close

      Not available

    • Footnotes close

      Not available

Last updated: 10/24/2017 10:44:01 PM