The following text was extracted from a CCC Staff Report.

Heritage Summary

The house is of historical and social significance due to its association with the early development of Richmond, and with pioneer Dr Gundry, the original owner of the land, and the Flesher family, who played a significant part in municipal matters and within the local communities of Richmond, Avonside and New Brighton.

The house is of cultural significance on account of its present use as a community centre, and on account of it being a landmark in the comm unity consciousness. The setting and grounds of the house have been used as a public park in council ownership for 56 years.

Architecturally the house is significant as a good example of the domestic architecture of local architect James Glanville, an architect who designed a number of buildings in Christchurch and Canterbury in the late 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century, few examples of which remain.

The house is of some technological and landmark significance, and archaeological significance.

The attractive setting of the house is notable in relation to the house on account of its expansive lawn areas, planted borders, and established trees.

 

Appendix 1: Avebury Park Heritage Assessment

HERITAGE ASSESSMENT LISTED HERITAGE PLACE
AVEBURY HOUSE

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HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE
Historical and social values that demonstrate or are associated with: a particular person, group, organisation, institution, event, phase or activity; the continuity and/or change of a phase or activity; social, historical, traditional, economic, political or other patterns.

Avebury House is of historical and social significance as a substantial, early Richmond dwelling built c.1885 for the prominent Flesher family. The house is part of the wider historical landscape in that is part of the early development of the Avonside and Richmond area, which became popular due to its access to the river, and the proposed canal, which never eventuated.

The property also has some historical significance due its association with the original owner of the rural section Dr Gundry.

William Flesher took a great interest in, and played an ac tive part in public and church
matters, particularly in the Richmond community. His son James Arthur Flesher was also actively involved in public life, and served on numerous municipal and local bodies (including fr om 1923 to 1925, Mayor of Christchurch) and was a member of a number organisations concerned with the welfare of the community.

The transfer in 1951 of the property to the Mayor, Councillors, and Citizens of Christchurch for recreational purposes is of historical and social significance as it reflects a phase in town planning when there was a move towards providing for adequate numbers of recreation or neighbourhood parks in residential areas. It also reflects the common occurrence in Christchurch- the purchase by Council of large homesteads with substantial grounds for recreation purposes once they passed out of family ownership due to their becoming
beyond most modern families needs.

The house is of historical and social significance for its connection with the Youth Hostel Association, as the Cora Wilding Youth Hostel for 32 years.

Historical and Social Significance Statement

Avebury House has been assessed as being of high historical and social significance within Christchurch.

CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE
Cultural and spiritual values that demonstrate or are associated with the distinctive characteristics of a way of life, philosophy, tradition, religion, or other belief,including: the symbolic or commemorative value of the place; significance to Tangata Whenua; and/or associations with an identifiable group and esteemed by this group for its cultural values

The house and setting reflects the way of life of a large moderately wealthy and socially and politically prominent family from 1885-1945. It also reflects the nature of budget travellers accommodation in the1960s – late 1990s. The house is of cultural significance on account of its present use as a Community centre, and as a landmark in the Richmond community consciousness.

Cultural and Spiritual Significance Statement

Avebury House has been assessed as having high cultural and spiritual significance within Christchurch.

ARCHITECTURAL AND AESTHETIC SIGNIFICANCE

Architectural and aesthetic values that demonstrate or are associated with design values, form, scale, colour, texture and material of the place;

The house dates from c.1885, with alterations in c1907 resulting in its present design aesthetic, and is of architectural significance as a rare surviving example of the work of little known Christchurch architect James Glanville.

The house has undergone a number of alterations which havehad some effect on its architectural integrity, namely the glazing of the first floor verandah.

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Glanville’s designs of note include the Richmond Methodist Church Sunday School (1886), two 2 storey houses in Gloucester Street/Latimer Square (1896) (demolished), a two storey residence on the corner of Papanui Road and Leinster Street (1899) – Leinster House (relocated). He was also responsible for a number of domestic buildings in and around Christchurch. The Latimer Square houses and Leinster House shared characteristics of the c1907 alterations to Avebury House and which were typical of Glanville’s work, namely a corner turret and ground and first floor verandahs.

Architectural and Aesthetic Significance Statement

Avebury House has been assessed as having moderate ar chitectural and aesthetic significance within Christchurch.

TECHNOLOGICAL AND CRAFTSMANSHIP SIGNIFICANCE

Technological and craftsmanship values that demonstrate or are associated with: the nature and use of
materials, finishes and/or technological or constructional methods which were innovative, or of notable quality for the period.

The technology and craftsmanship in the house is of a good standard typical of its time. Of note is the elegant stairway and balustrade, plaster cornices, ceiling roses, leadlight windows, hall archway and corbels, and timberwork throughout (doors, architraves, timber panelling)
Technological and Craftsmanship Significance Statement
Avebury House has been assessed as having moderate tec hnological and craftsmanship significance, within Christchurch.

CONTEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE

Contextual values that demonstrate or are associated with: a relationship to the environment (constructed and natural) setting, a group, precinct or streetscape; a degree of consistency in terms of scale, form, materials, texture, colour, style and/or detailing in relationship to the environment (constructed and natural), setting, a group, precinct or streetscape; a physical or visible landmark; a contribution to the character of the environment (constructed and natural) setting, a group, precinct or streetscape.

The house and setting are a landmark in the area, and thei r physical presence is a strong feature of Eveleyn
Couzins Avenue. The first stretch of the Avenue was the former driveway to the house, and this is physically evident in the avenue of trees and wide footpath leading towards the house.

The large house and substantial grounds now in public/ community or educational use are a common feature which characterises Christchurch suburbs – other examples include Mona Vale, Abberley Park, Elmwood Park, Te Koraha and Strowan.

Contextual Significance Statement

Avebury House has been assessed as having moderate contextual significance, within Christchurch.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Archaeological values that demonstrate or are a ssociated with: potential to provide archaeological information through physical evidence; an understanding about social historical, cultural, spiritual, technological or other values or past events, activities, people or phases?
As an early cottage is believed to have been on site pr ior to 1885, the foundations of which remain, and the main part of the present house built in 1885, the house and property have potential to hold archaeological evidence of human activity pre-1900.
Archaeological Significance Statement

Avebury House has been assessed as having moderate archaeological significance within Christchurch.
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STATEMENT OF HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE

The house is of historical and social significance due to its association with the early development of Richmond, and with pioneer Dr Gundry, the original ow ner of the land, and the Flesher family, who played a significant part in Municipal matters and within the local communities of Richmond, Avonside and New Brighton. The history of the house is connected with the youth hostel movement, being used as the Cora Wilding Youth Hostel for 32 years. In a wider historical context, the house and grounds illustrate the manner in which large houses and properties outgrow their suit ability as family homes and are often gifted to or purchased by local governments or the Crown for community use.
The house is of cultural significance on account of its present use as a community centre, and on account of it being a landmark in the community consciousness. The setting and grounds of the house have been used as a public park in council ownership for 56 years. Architecturally the house is significant as a good example of the domestic architecture of local architect James Glanville, an architect who designed a number of buildings in Christchurch and Canterbury in the late 19thcentury and the first decade of the 20th century, few examples of which remain.

The house is of some technological and landmark significance, and archaeological significance. The attractive setting of the house is notable in relation to the house on account of its expansive lawn areas, planted borders, and established trees.

Avebury House is considered to be of of metropolitan heritage significance.

REFERENCES :
CCC Background Information

The above text was sourced  from  "HERITAGE REINSTATEMENT PROGRAMME– AVEBURY PARK EARTHQUAKE REPAIRS report to CCC -Agenda 15th March 2015."