Greer House

• c.1865
• Construction
• c.1908
• Extension

• c.1865
• The Greer family
• unknown
• Karen and Bruce Murdoch

Not assessed

The one-storey bay villa is typical of its type.

Timber weatherboards and joinery; corrugated iron roofing.

Greer House is on Lot 1 DP 89513 Pt Sec 33 Porirua District Block VII Belmont SD. The house is located in an area called Glenside. From around the 1840s to 1928, the area was known as ‘the Halfway’, as it was the midpoint between Wellington and Porirua. Halfway was renamed Glenside in 1928 as the result of a competition.

Greer House is situated against a backdrop of pines and bush. Like other historic houses in Glenside, the setting is a key element of its heritage value, given its association with the Old Porirua Road and early settlement. The other historic buildings in the area are Harrison’s Cottage at 7 Willowbank Road, Nott House at 400 Middleton Road (WCC heritage listing number 211), and the Halfway House at 246 Middleton Road (WCC heritage listing number 439). With Greer House, these buildings combine to give the Glenside area a feeling rich in heritage.

• 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?

  Greer House is a simple early settler Victorian single storey villa. The fretwork is quite lovely and adds good visual interest.

• Association

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

  Greer House is associated with the early settlement of Wellington. The house was one of the first buildings in the area; it is located on one of the 100 acre (40 hectare) rural sections from the original New Zealand Company survey of Wellington. It is an important link to the original settlers.

• Archaeological

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

  Greer House was constructed pre 1900 and is likely to be of archaeological value.

• 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?

  Greer House is almost 150 years old and therefore makes a significant contribution to a sense of continuity from the original settlement of the Tawa/Johnsonville area to the present. Greer House is one of the area’s earliest buildings.

• 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?

  Greer House has retained much of its original detailing, character, and setting.

• Local Regional National International

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

  Greer House is important at a local level.

• Rare

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

  Greer House is one of the few remaining old houses located on Middleton Road. It is a rare surviving colonial farm cottage with farm buildings in the Wellington area.

• Representative

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

  Greer House is a good example of an early New Zealand colonial cottage.

Not assessed

• Bibby, Claire. ‘The History and Heritage of Glenside’. The Onslow Historian 32(1-4), 2002
• Carman, Arthur H. Tawa Flat and the Old Porirua Road 1840-1955. Wellington: A H Carmen, 1956
• Morrell, Vivienne. ‘Greer House, Proposal Report: 20 Nov 2012’. NZHPT, 2012
• Wellington City Council. ‘Northern Suburbs – Following the Old Porirua Road’. Last accessed August 2013

Not available

Not available