Antrim House

The House

Architect: Thomas Turnball, construction overseen by son, William Turnball.
Builder: Davis and Browman
Cost: 7230 pounds
Size: 18 rooms, two bathrooms and large cloakroom.
Built: 1904-05

Antrim House today Photo: Grant Sheehan

An imposing building, Antrim House is an example of the Edwardian Italianate style. It is constructed mainly of kauri and heart totara on concrete foundations, with an iron roof and shingles on the cupola that was once capped with decorative ironwork.

It is enhanced by wide verandahs with elaborately turned balustrades, and the wrought iron fence, gates with their brass plaque (now gone), the garden and the sweeping path lend a baronial air to the house. Originally, a harbour view could be enjoyed from the downstairs rooms.

The outbuildings included a summerhouse (now gone), conservatory, stables (the coach house was later converted to a garage for cars), dairy and laundry.

Inside, the construct is of kauri and totara paneling and skirtings. The high embossed pressed metal ceilings on the ground floor and first floor passages are by Wunderlich of Sydney.

Stained glass fanlights surround the front doors and most windows. The interior swing doors in the foyer contain acid etched panels featuring the Ferguson clan coat of arms (a bee on athistle) bearing the motto Dulcius ex Asperis (sweetness after difficulty). All the main rooms have fireplaces, some of which are elaborately carved and tiled.

The drawing room of Antrim House about 1908. Photo: Alexander Turnbull Library*

The interior was decorated with rich, heavy hangings, and the dark furniture and Brussels carpets of the time. Huge New Zealand landscapes by W G Baker (a favourite of the Hannahs) hung on stairway walls.

Much of the furniture and family china had been bought back from trips to Ireland in 1901 and 1904.

The overall luxuriousness of the size, fixtures and fittings of the house bore testimony to the business success of Robert Hannah and his company.

* Photo: Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand / Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image