Riccarton House

Riccarton House is a two-story residence in Christchurch displaying architectural elements from different periods, built with matai timber framing and kahikatea weatherboards. The structure grew through multiple expansions that added various wings to the original building.

Jane Deans commissioned this house in 1855 following her husband John's death, with major extensions completed in 1874 and 1900. These additions reflect the family's growth and increasing prosperity during those decades.

The house reflects early European settlement in Canterbury and preserves strong ties to the Deans family's Scottish heritage through its architecture and furnishings. The rooms show how settlers from Britain brought their traditions to their new home.

The property operates as a restaurant and event venue offering guided tours through historical rooms filled with period furniture. The interiors are accessible to visitors, and comfortable walking shoes are recommended as the building has multiple staircases and uneven floors.

The house stands next to Riccarton Bush, one of the last remaining stands of original podocarp forest that once covered the Canterbury plains. This rare forest landscape today serves as a refuge for native bird species.