History of the Pah Homestead

In 1998, Auckland City Council endorsed the concept of a premier park at Monte Cecilia Park. Since then, a number of land purchases have established the current park area, which includes the historic Pah Homestead.

The park and Homestead have a rich and colourful history. The original 162ha 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 between 1877 and 1879 as his ‘gentleman’s residence’.

Designed by architects Edward and Thomas Mahoney, the Homestead was the largest house in the Auckland province at the time. A picturesque farm landscape, including a series of gardens and tree lined driveways, was developed around the Homestead, the remnants of which can still be seen.

The park today has one of the finest collections of large and rare exotic trees in Auckland and enjoys views that include the Manukau Harbour, One Tree Hill, and the Waitakere Ranges.

The Homestead itself 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. At various times it was served as an orphanage, novitiate house, boarding school and, more recently, emergency housing.

The Council extensively restored and adapted the Homestead prior to its opening as the home of the TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre in August 2010.

Open Talk on the History of the Pah Homestead

The Open Talk on the history of the Pah Homestead on Saturday 29 January 2011 was a great success.  For those of you who missed it, you can click on the following links to watch the talk and Q & A session on YouTube.

The History of The Pah Homestead

The History of The Pah Homestead Q&A