The site of the present day Government House, Auckland was first built upon in the 1880s or 1890s, although some of the trees are slightly older, dating from the 1870s. The House is much smaller than the Wellington Government House, being designed as a family home.
Sir Frank Mappin, 6th Baronet and his wife Lady Mappin bought the property in 1921 and spent the next 45 years, after building the residence, developing and landscaping the grounds. The house was originally called Birchlands. The house was gifted to the Crown in 1962. The deed of gift, signed by Sir Frank, and Prime Minister Keith Holyoake on 23 May that year declares that "the donor [was] moved by his duty and loyalty to Her Majesty and by a desire to benefit her present and future subjects in New Zealand by the provision of a site of dignity and beauty for the residence in Auckland for Her Majesty's Representative in New Zealand". The deed states the property is gifted "upon trust for Her Majesty her heirs and successors according to law as a site for Government House in Auckland for ever ..".[1]
It has been speculated by Brian Rudman that were New Zealand to become a republic, the House would have to return to the descendants of Sir Frank.[1]
The first Government House of Auckland burned down. The second, now known as Old Government House, now sits on the University of Auckland City Campus and has been converted into lecture theatres and a common room for faculty. The building is in decline and needs considerable funds to bring it up to its former glory.
See also [edit]
- Government Houses of New Zealand
- Government Houses of the British Empire
- Governor-General of New Zealand
References [edit]
- ^ a b Brian Rudman (13 March 2006). "If we ditch the monarchy, who gets the house?". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2010-09-26.
External links [edit]
- New Zealand Government Houses
- The Governor-General of New Zealand - Biography, accessed 19 July 2006
Coordinates: 36°52′31″S 174°46′06″E / 36.875318°S 174.768239°E
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