Fairfield House, Nelson

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Fairfield House in 2012 Fairfield House 03.JPG
Fairfield House in 2012

Fairfield House in 48 Van Diemen Street, Nelson, New Zealand, [1] is registered with Heritage New Zealand as a Category I structure. Originally built in 1849, today's house was constructed as a residence for Arthur Atkinson in 1872. It was at some stage owned by the Nelson College for Girls, who used it as a boarding house. After the 1929 Murchison earthquake, boarders from Nelson College also moved in, as their hostel got damaged. [2] The house was given to Nelson City Council in 1979 and was threatened with demolition. A community group formed that had the objective of saving the house. Alan Stanton moved into the derelict building as a squatter and started restoring it. Today, it is a community centre. [3]

Atkinson, who was the brother of Premier Harry Atkinson, had an observation tower built onto the house in 1883, as his hobby was astronomy. [3] He was tasked by the Royal Society to observe the transit of Venus in 1882. [2] The tower had at one point been demolished, [3] but a replica has since been built. [2]

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References

  1. "Fairfield House". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Chapman, Caitlin. "Fairfield House". The Prow. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 "Fairfield House". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand . Retrieved 21 June 2012.

41°17′02″S173°17′00″E / 41.283894°S 173.283463°E / -41.283894; 173.283463