Highwic, Carpenter Gothic residence in Epsom, Auckland Region, New Zealand.

Highwic is a residence in Epsom featuring steep gables, pointed arches, and decorative wooden elements typical of the Carpenter Gothic style. The structure displays crafted details throughout, with multiple rooms added over time to the original design.

Alfred Buckland bought the 2.5-acre site from William Hay in 1862 and built Highwic as a six- or seven-room timber villa based on a Carpenter Gothic design by A.J. Downing; Richard Keals may have been the architect. Enlargements followed in 1873 and 1885 as Buckland's pastoral wealth grew. Family descendants lived here until 1978, and the house opened as a museum in 1981.

The name likely derives from Highweek in Devonshire, where the Buckland family had connections. Alfred Buckland's first wife Eliza bought the land for £1,000 in 1861, and the family of seven children moved in during 1862. Descendants lived in the house until 1978, when it was bought to save it from subdivision and opened as a museum in 1981.

Visitors can explore the house through guided tours, so it's worth checking opening times in advance as these change seasonally. Budget enough time to walk through each room and notice the architectural details throughout the building.

Highwic was used as a filming location for music acts Bic Runga and Rhys Darby and for television shows including East of Eden, The Jono Project and The Luminaries. In 2012 the house marked its 150th anniversary with high tea, Victorian costumes and floral displays for the Festival of Flowers.