Selwyn Court, Auckland
Selwyn Court embodies a unique chapter of New Zealand鈥檚 colonial and ecclesiastical history. Established in 1861 as the first official bishop鈥檚 residence, it became home to Bishop George Selwyn, from whom the complex takes its name. The site was designed in the Gothic Revival style, adapted locally into what became known as Selwyn Gothic, a distinctive timber version of the European style. The original complex included a chapel, a library, a steepled octagonal tower, and the bishop鈥檚 residence, all arranged around a U-shaped courtyard.
The architect, Frederick Thatcher, played a pivotal role in shaping Selwyn Court鈥檚 character. His use of shingled roofs, vertical board-and-batten walls, and Early English-style windows created a striking yet practical design for Auckland鈥檚 conditions. The house, built on a slope, was designed to appear single-storied from the courtyard, while cleverly incorporating private rooms on a stone-walled lower level and reception rooms above. The buildings, connected to the library by offices and corridors, showcase Selwyn鈥檚 structural system of roof supports carried to floor level, creating an effect of internal buttressing most clearly seen in the library鈥檚 exterior.
Over time, Selwyn Court has changed, but its historical character endures. A double-storey verandah was added to the northern side of the house around 1883, while the removal of the chapel altered the original courtyard ensemble. Today, the site remains an important architectural landmark in Parnell, offering visitors a glimpse into New Zealand鈥檚 19th-century ecclesiastical life and its adaptation of European styles to local materials. The Selwyn Court was listed under the Historic Places Act of 1980.
The architect, Frederick Thatcher, played a pivotal role in shaping Selwyn Court鈥檚 character. His use of shingled roofs, vertical board-and-batten walls, and Early English-style windows created a striking yet practical design for Auckland鈥檚 conditions. The house, built on a slope, was designed to appear single-storied from the courtyard, while cleverly incorporating private rooms on a stone-walled lower level and reception rooms above. The buildings, connected to the library by offices and corridors, showcase Selwyn鈥檚 structural system of roof supports carried to floor level, creating an effect of internal buttressing most clearly seen in the library鈥檚 exterior.
Over time, Selwyn Court has changed, but its historical character endures. A double-storey verandah was added to the northern side of the house around 1883, while the removal of the chapel altered the original courtyard ensemble. Today, the site remains an important architectural landmark in Parnell, offering visitors a glimpse into New Zealand鈥檚 19th-century ecclesiastical life and its adaptation of European styles to local materials. The Selwyn Court was listed under the Historic Places Act of 1980.
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Selwyn Court on Map
Sight Name: Selwyn Court
Sight Location: Auckland, New Zealand (See walking tours in Auckland)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Auckland, New Zealand (See walking tours in Auckland)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
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