Pompallier House

Pompallier House stands on The Strand in Russell, featuring rammed earth construction techniques and serving as a preserved example of early colonial architecture.

Established in the mid-19th century, this building functioned as the headquarters for the French Catholic mission and printed religious materials for distribution across the Western Pacific.

The printing press at Pompallier House produced over 30,000 books and documents in Māori language between 1842 and 1849, supporting literacy among local communities.

The mission and printery welcomes visitors daily from 10 AM to 4 PM, with guided tours operating four times throughout the day.

The structure holds the distinction of being New Zealand's oldest Roman Catholic building, oldest rammed earth construction, and oldest industrial facility.

Location: Far North District

Address: 5 The Strand, Russell

GPS coordinates: -35.26460,174.12200

Latest update: March 7, 2025 00:26