Carlile House

An enigmatic presence on Auckland’s Richmond Road, Carlile House is a dilapidated former orphanage owned by the United Church of Tonga, crumbling discreetly amongst the upwardly mobile villas, cafes and apartments of Grey Lynn.

Built as the original orphanage in Auckland in 1886 for “boys of good character”, the building has Category A protection status fromHeritage NZ and for good reason – it’s a looming, stately presence with the sort of sturdy features that would be out of reach for even top-end developers of today.

Half a century of neglect has taken its toll however, and the site remains frankly derelict and gothic. The present owners have been unable to restore the building (which has severely suffered with rain, break-ins and fires wrecking interiors), and they are in perpetual negotiations with local government.

The building remains a fascinating sore thumb. How can society preserve and enhance an antique building when the present owners are not solely responsible for generations of neglect and absent-minded design? And how can restoration occur without the contribution – and possibly dubious influence – of the private sector? With restoration estimates nudging $NZ6 million even in 2014, clearly the story of Carlile House remains unfinished.