Antonio Hall (house) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Antonio Hall |
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Antonio Hall in August 2011 with earthquake damage
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| Former names | Kilmead Campion Hall |
| Alternative names | Antonio House |
| General information | |
| Type | Residential home |
| Architectural style | blend of English and American domestic architecture |
| Location | Riccarton |
| Address | 265 Riccarton Road |
| Town or city | Christchurch |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 43°31′51″S 172°35′06″E / 43.530910°S 172.584931°E |
| Current tenants | Vacant |
| Construction started | 1904 |
| Completed | 1909 |
| Renovated | 1950s |
| Owner | Wellstar Co Ltd |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Clarkson & Ballantyne (homestead) Collins and Harman (extensions) |
| Designated: | 25 October 1996 |
| Reference #: | 7336 |
Antonio Hall, also known as Antonio House, is a historic mansion in Riccarton, a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. It has also been known as Kilmead and Campion Hall in the past. This large building has 279 rooms. It was once called "one of the finest" homes in the area. For about 30 years, it was used as a Catholic seminary, a place where priests are trained. Even though it's a protected heritage building, it has sadly fallen into disrepair. In July 2019, Antonio Hall was badly damaged by a fire.
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History of Antonio Hall
Building a Grand Home (1904-1909)
The mansion was built between 1904 and 1909. It was made for Thomas Kincaid, a successful merchant and city councillor in Christchurch. He named his new home Kilmead. The architects who designed this impressive building were William Albert Paxton Clarkson and Robert Anderson Ballantyne. When Mr. Kincaid passed away in 1928, his home was described as one of the best in Christchurch.
From Home to Seminary (1946-1978)
In 1946, a farmer and businessman named John Montgomery owned the property. After him, the Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, Patrick Lyons, bought the mansion. He bought it for the Holy Name Seminary. This seminary was a special school for training priests, run by the Society of Jesus.
The church added several new parts to the building. These included a chapel, a library, lecture halls, and a dormitory. All these new sections were designed by the architectural firm Collins and Harman. The seminary officially opened in February 1947.
Student Accommodation and New Name (1978-1993)
The seminary closed in 1978. The church decided to combine its training facilities with another school in Mosgiel. After that, the building was used as accommodation for students. Because it was close to the University of Canterbury, it was a good place for students to live. It was given a new name, Campion Hall. The building has a huge number of rooms, including over 100 bedrooms!
Changing Hands and Decline (1981-Present)
In 1981, Patrick and Veronica Luisetti bought the property. They continued to run it as a boarding house for people to live in. They renamed it Antonio Hall. This new name was a tribute to their son, Anthony, who had passed away in 1975.
Ownership changed again in 1993 to a company called Wellstar Co Ltd. This company's owners lived mostly in Taiwan. There were talks about turning the property into motel units, but these plans never happened. This is when the building started to fall into disrepair.
The building was empty when the big 2011 Christchurch earthquake happened. The earthquake caused even more damage to the already neglected building. Since then, no repairs have been made. The property has become overgrown and unkempt. On July 12, 2019, a fire broke out in the house. About one-third of the building was destroyed. A 14-year-old boy later admitted to starting the fire.
Heritage Protection
Antonio Hall is an important building in New Zealand's history. It was officially recognized and protected on October 25, 1996. The New Zealand Historic Places Trust, now called Heritage New Zealand, listed it as a Category II heritage building. This means it is a place of historical or cultural importance.
