Premier House

Most houses in Thorndon are cheek by jowl with their neighbours but this Category 1 Historic Place enjoys a large site purchased by the Crown in 1865. With exceptions many Prime Ministers have made this their official residence and it continues in this role today. The present two storied, late Victorian Italianate style timber home dating from 1873 was designed by W.H. Clayton, the Colonial Architect.

For a time the building was converted into a trainee dental clinic as Michael Joseph Savage refused to live in such grandeur.

It was under threat of demolition when Michael Bassett responded to the Thorndon Historical Society's request to have the house reinstated as a ministerial residence. It was restored in 1990 to mark the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Works by New Zealand artists are hung in the house.

Image Credit: Alison Kuiper