Highwic facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Highwic |
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| General information | |
| Status | Historic house museum |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| Address | 40 Gillies Avenue, Epsom (off Mortimer Pass Newmarket) |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 36°52′18″S 174°46′30″E / 36.8718°S 174.7749°E |
| Opened | 1981 |
| Designated: | 7 April 1983 |
| Reference #: | 18 |
Highwic is a fascinating old house in Auckland, New Zealand. It was built way back in the 1800s and is now a special historic place. A rich landowner named Alfred Buckland had it built in 1862. The house sits high up, looking over the town of Newmarket. Today, it's a museum where you can explore what life was like long ago!
Contents
Building Highwic: A Family Home
Highwic is a big house built in a style called Carpenter Gothic. It was made for a wealthy settler and landowner, Alfred Buckland. The house was placed on a hill, giving it great views over Newmarket.
In 1861, Alfred's first wife, Eliza, bought the land for £1,000. The family, with their seven children, moved into the house in 1862. Eliza had two more children while living there, but sadly, she passed away in 1866.
Growing the House for a Growing Family
The original house had eight rooms. As the Buckland family grew bigger and richer, they added more parts to the house. This happened in 1874, 1883, and 1884.
After Eliza died, Alfred Buckland married Matilda Jane Frodsham in 1867. Matilda was 20 years younger than Alfred. She had 11 children of her own, and nine of them lived to be adults. Matilda lived at Highwic until she was very old, even after Alfred passed away.
What Was Inside Highwic?
The house had many rooms, including a fancy Drawing Room and several bedrooms. There was also a special dormitory for the boys. For chores, there was a laundry, kitchen, and a scullery (a small room next to the kitchen). Outside, there were stables for horses, a place for the grooms to stay, and even a billiard house for games.
Later, in the early 1900s, two bathrooms were added inside. These had baths, sinks, flushing toilets, and hot and cold running water. The Buckland family lived in Highwic until 1978. They also made some changes to the house over the years.
To save Highwic from being divided up and sold, two groups bought it together: the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (now called Heritage New Zealand) and the Auckland City Council. Highwic opened as a historic house museum in 1981, so everyone could visit and learn about its past.
Fun Events and Celebrations at Highwic
Highwic has hosted many special events over the years. In 1980, a party was held there for the Duke of Kent and Katharine, Duchess of Kent. There was also a big ball in 1982 to help raise money for the New Zealand Blood Foundation. This ball was so important that it was written about in a popular magazine!
The Twelve Days of Christmas Exhibition
In 1985, Highwic held a special exhibition called "The Twelve Days of Christmas". It was filled with all sorts of Christmas items. You could see beautiful decorations, old Christmas cards, and festive Christmas trees. There was also Christmas carol singing and lovely flower arrangements and wreaths.
The exhibition also showed antique dolls and toys. Plus, there was a display that explained Christmas stories and what different symbols mean. You could even buy gifts at a shop! One of the huge Norfolk Island Pine trees outside was covered with 800 lights. Sometimes, the rooms inside were lit only by candles, making it feel extra magical.
Celebrating 150 Years of Highwic
In 2012, Highwic celebrated its 150th birthday with events all year long! People could enjoy high tea at the house and see a collection of old Victorian costumes. There were also beautiful flower displays as part of the Festival of Flowers. Music and art shows were held too.
That year, Highwic was a main attraction for the Auckland Heritage Festival. A concert called A Song Without Words was held in the ballroom, celebrating the music of students of Felix Mendelssohn.
Highwic on Screen
Highwic has been used as a filming location for many cool projects. Music artists like Bic Runga and Rhys Darby have filmed there. It has also appeared in TV shows such as The Jono Project and the miniseries The Luminaries.
Spooky Stories at Highwic
Some people believe Highwic is one of the most haunted places in Auckland! There have been stories of a ghost being seen in one of the bedrooms. It's also said that a ghostly dog lives there. A former spokesperson for Highwic even claimed to have seen a black dog running across the garden towards the edge of the property.
