Restoration Project
Origins of the Restoration
"The very begining was in 1986 when the Wellington Regional committee of the Historic Places Trust was listing Wellington buildings they hoped would be newly classified. Some people thought that Katherine Mansfield's birthplace had already been demolished - the changing of street numbers before 1910 had confused them". Oroya Day, Founder President, and the inspiration behind the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Society Inc., talking to Dale Williams about the journey to recreating the Birthplace.
"Architect Martin Hill initiated invasive research into the building and James Beard became responsible for the major task of repair, strengthening and restoration. So many people came forward to help, once I got the momentum going.
Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Society incorporated
The Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Society was incorporated in July 1987. We wanted everything to be in place in time for the Centenary conference (of KM's birth) to be held at Victoria University in 1988. We had the backing of the Ministers of Tourism and Internal Affairs, and the Stout Trust and the Department of Tourism and Publicity each chipped in $100,000. To make up the purchase price, Peter Young and I put in some of our own money to meet the deadline for acquisition until the Lotteries Board could discuss a loan. By October 1987 the property was in our hands. What we had purchased was a partly remodelled two-flat property, and our first aim was to use it as a writers' research centre with a display on KM's life. But then came our first surprise.”
“As we began work on repairing the building, we discovered traces of the original décor were still there, all over the house. It dawned on us that it would be quite possible to have a change of focus, and instead restore the building to what it had been in the time when the Beauchamps lived there - the Birthplace as Kathleen Beauchamp had known it."
“It was at this time too that ICOMOS (the International Council on Monuments and Sites) was formed. We had a golden oportunity to restore this house in accordance with the best international thinking on presenting historic wooden buildings. With the interpretation of the house, Campbell Moon's expertise came into play."
Aesthetic Movement decoration style
Archaeologists helped with an exploratory dig in part of the grounds, and it was also confirmed that the decoration style throughout the house was that of the Aesthetic Movement which had been so heavily influenced by Oscar Wilde. The Society looked for people who could help with memories of the house, this included KM's cousin, Lulu McIntosh, who "filled us in on the social history side of the Beauchamps. Another key helper was Mansfield's biographer, Antony Alpers. But there were so many helpers. This was a project which depended almost completely on volunteer help, and so many people gave their expertise for free to help the Birthplace dream become a reality. The contribution of Wendy Tolley, Jo Breese and yourself over the years has been outstanding. But it is unfair to single out just a few."
The opening of the birthplace
“The opening of the house and grounds on October 14, 1988, KM's 100th birthday was fantastic. The House was opened by Lady Reeves, our patron at the time. The ceremony was bi-cultural, with the Rt Rev H H Winiata, Assistant Bishop of Wellington, blessing the house. We also aquired a Maori name for the Birthplace, Te Puakitanga, which means the first place of the storyteller.
We could open the House only in stages as the money came in and the restoration work was completed. Research, fundraise, then restore, that was our method. The final stage of the interpretation was completed in 1996.”
The full story of the restoration process is told in large scrapbooks kept in the Video Room at the Birthplace.
Of course, maintenance of this historic House is ongoing and expensive. The Society relies on grants and donations, together with membership subscriptions, visitor entry fees,and venue hire.
Become a Member: Join the Society
Contact us here: for ways that you can help the ongoing preservation of the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace.
© Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Society Inc 2005 site design: McGovern & Associates
