{{Short description|Historic house in Wellington, New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}} {{Infobox building | name = Antrim House | native_name = | native_name_lang = | former_names = | alternate_names = | status = | image = AntrimHouse.jpg | image_alt = | image_size = | website = {{URL|https://www.heritage.org.nz/places/places-to-visit/wellington-region/antrim-house}} | address = 63 Boulcott Street, Wellington, New Zealand | location = | coordinates = {{coordinates|-41.28684|174.77382|display=inline}} | architectural_style = Italianate | groundbreaking_date = | construction_start_date = | completion_date = | opened_date = | inauguration_date = | demolished_date = | architect = William Turnbull | landlord = | owner = Heritage New Zealand | cost = | floor_area = | top_floor = | floor_count = | awards = | ren_awards = | embed = | embedded = {{designation list|embed=yes|designation1=NZ Category I|designation1_number=[https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/208/Listing 208]|designation1_date=26 November 1981}} | references = | namesake = County Antrim | pushpin_map = New Zealand Wellington | pushpin_map_alt = | map_caption = | mapframe = no | pushpin_relief = | altitude = | building_type = | structural_system = | ren_cost = | client = | renovation_date = | height = | architectural = | tip = | antenna_spire = | roof = | observatory = | other_dimensions = | seating_type = | seating_capacity = | elevator_count = | architecture_firm = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | civil_engineer = | other_designers = | quantity_surveyor = | main_contractor = | designations = | ren_architect = | ren_firm = | ren_str_engineer = | ren_serv_engineer = | ren_civ_engineer = | ren_oth_designers = | ren_qty_surveyor = | number_of_rooms = | logo = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image_caption = | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_label = | etymology = | cancelled = | topped_out = | classification = | topped_out_date = | relocated_date = | closing_date = | affiliation = | diameter = | circumference = | weight = | material = | size = | grounds_area = | developer = | engineer = | known_for = | ren_engineer = | ren_contractor = | footnotes = }}
'''Antrim House''' is a historic Italianate house located in Wellington, New Zealand registered as a category 1 building by Heritage New Zealand. Antrim House was built as the home for Robert Hannah and his family.
==Description== Antrim House is a two-storey, 18-room Italianate building largely constructed from tōtara. The building has a central tower which had an ornate iron crown. It initially overlooked the Wellington Harbour but today it is surrounded by high-rise buildings. The interior has pressed metal ceilings; hand-crafted kauri panels and staircase; and leadlight and stained glass windows.<ref name="premier"/>
==History== thumb|Antrim House, 1906
===Background=== Robert Hannah trained as an apprentice to a cobbler.<ref name="premier"/> He later opened a shoe store in Lambton Quay in 1874.<ref name="heritage"/> Due to the import duty his business grew well and in 1893 he had ten stores and a factory.<ref name="premier"/>
===Antrim House=== Antrim House was built on Boulcott Street in 1905 for Robert Hannah and his family. Hannah had commissioned Thomas Turnbull and Sons<ref name="heritage">{{cite web |last1=McCracken |first1=Helen |title=Antrim House |url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/208/Antrim%20House |website=Heritage New Zealand }}</ref> and William Turnbull designed the home in an Italianate style. Hannah named the property after County Antrim, his home county.<ref name="premier">{{cite magazine |magazine=Heritage New Zealand |last1=Babirat |first1=Claudia |editor1-last=Dunlop |editor1-first=Anna |title=Premier property|date=Spring 2024 |issue=174 |pages=16–21 |publisher=Heritage New Zealand |issn=1175-9615}}</ref>
===Later use=== After the death of Hannah in 1930 the Antrim House was leased as a hotel. In 1938 it was sold and continued use as a hotel until 1949, when it would be purchased by the government as accommodation for important visitors, this did not go ahead and instead it was used as a hostel for public servants.<ref name="heritage"/> In 1940 the interior was damaged in a fire. Due to war shortages the interior was remade in Art Deco style.<ref name="premier"/> In 1977 the hostel closed and the government agreed for the building to become the headquarters of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Following this extensive renovation work took place to ready the property for use.<ref name="heritage"/>
From October 2022 through May 2024,<ref name="ThePost">{{cite news |last1=Jacobs |first1=Jamie |title=Edwardian gem Antrim House reopens after refurbishment |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/culture/350312667/edwardian-gem-antrim-house-reopens-after-refurbishment |work=The Post}}</ref> the building underwent renovation again, mainly for seismic strengthening, replacing the roof, and repainting the building. The dome of the building was reconstructed by a roofing specialist who had worked on the Palace of Versailles. Butterfly joints were used to strengthen the original totara weatherboards as required.<ref name="premier"/>
==Cultural Heritage== Later the house was owned by New Zealand Historic Places Trust, now Heritage New Zealand.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://i.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/culture/98154543/about-600-people-shown-through-antrim-house-as-part-of-wellington-city-heritage-week | title=About 600 people tour Antrim House as part of Wellington City Heritage Week | date=23 October 2017|website=Stuff|first =Damian|last=George}}</ref> The organisation has both restored features of this now rare town residence, and it is currently their central office. What was once a site bordered by other homes in now encased by postmodern structures.
The building is classified as a Category 1 Historic Place ("places of 'special or outstanding historical or cultural heritage significance or value'") historic place by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.<ref>{{NZHPT|208||2009-12-21}}</ref>
<gallery mode="packed"> File:Staircase and Art Deco window in Antrim House.jpg|Art Deco replacement window after 1940 fire. Stained glass windows above Antrim House's main entrance and vestibule.jpg|Stained glass windows above Antrim House's main entrance. Embossed pressed tin ceiling in drawing room of Antrim House.jpg|Embossed pressed tin ceiling in Drawing Room of Antrim House; the ceiling was made by the Wunderlich Co. of Sydney in 1905. </gallery>
==Further reading== * {{cite book |first=Peter|last=Attwell|title=Antrim House and its occupants|publisher=New Zealand Historic Places Trust, Wellington|isbn=0908577192|date=1992}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category-inline|Antrim House}} *{{official website|https://www.visitheritage.co.nz/visit/wellington/antrim-house/}} *[https://hnzpt-rpod-assets.azureedge.net/iisoismy/antrim-conservation-plan-2022.pdf Conservation plan: Antrim House], Heritage NZ website
Category:Edwardian architecture in New Zealand Category:Houses completed in 1905 Category:Buildings and structures in Wellington City Category:Heritage New Zealand Category 1 historic places in the Wellington Region Category:Houses in New Zealand Category:1900s architecture in New Zealand Category:Historic houses in New Zealand Category:1905 establishments in New Zealand Category:Italianate architecture in New Zealand