Couldrey House, historic house in New Zealand
Couldrey House is a mid-1800s residence built mainly from local cedar wood, located within Wenderholm Regional Park near the coast. The nine-room home features classic Victorian design with decorative woodwork and displays objects from different eras that reflect the lives of its past residents.
The house was built in 1857 by Robert Graham, a European settler and politician, and was later moved in the 1860s to its current location using teams of workers and animals. Several notable owners including Major John Whitney in the late 1800s and Herbert William Couldrey in the 1940s made changes that shaped its appearance and purpose over time.
The house reflects how European settlers built their homes in New Zealand during colonial times. A carved pouwhenua marker near the grounds shows that the land held deep meaning for Māori people before and alongside European settlement.
The house is easily reached by car about 40 minutes north of Auckland with plenty of parking available at the site. Note that stairs are at the entrances, making access limited for people with mobility challenges, though the park grounds themselves are generally easy to navigate.
In the 1860s, the entire house was moved to its current location by teams of workers and animals in a remarkable feat for that era. This rare undertaking shows how much the community valued the building and its preservation.
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