The Prime Minister, Helen Clark cut the ribbon, the Kapa Haka group performed with gusto, the jazz trio played, and invited guests sipped tea, wearing Victorian tophats and crinolines. Richmond’s newly refurbished Avebury House was officially opened on September 18 with all the pageantry befitting such a grand old building.

In the last four years, the Christchurch City Council has spent $500,000 refurbishing the 117-year-old mansion, rescuing it from demolition and returning it to the community.

“We have plenty of bookings and are still looking at all the ways it can be used. There is no shortage of ideas,” says Lesley McMillan, the House’s community development worker. “There is a real sense of community ownership.”

Soundproof rooms for music practice, a purpose-built kitchen for cooking lessons and catering, a room with seven inbuilt computer connections, spacious meeting rooms and a flat for an artist in residence are just some of Avebury House’s facilities.

As well as being used by existing community groups, it has been suggested the House become home base for a new parents’ support group, a homework club for primary school children, and a non-profit Richmond community newspaper. The grandeur of its park-like garden and spacious rooms make it an ideal wedding venue but Mrs McMillan says only one wedding booking will be accepted each month so that the building retains its community focus.

• Interested members of the community are invited to visit Avebury House, 9 Eveleyn Couzins Ave between 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday.

With Thanks

It is thanks to the following community groups that the opening of Avebury House was such a success:

• Nga Hau e Wha’s catering team
• Richmond School’s Kapa Haka group
• Avonside Girls High School students
• Avonside Girls High School Barbershop group
• Apollo String Quartet
• Daniel Kennedy Jazz Trio

House available for community use

Avebury House is a newly refurbished, two-storied Victorian mansion, situated in Avebury Park, Richmond, off North Avon Road.

The house has three large rooms, three smaller rooms, a computer room and a commercial-grade kitchen.

Run by a community trust of local people, Avebury House is an attractive, low-cost venue for community activities and events.

The house opened in August and a community worker is on site from Monday to Thursday 10am - 4pm.

Avebury House
9 Evelyn Couzins Avenue, Richmond
PO Box 26-097
Christchurch
Telephone (03) 381 6615
e-mail: avebury@paradise.net.nz
Community worker, Lesley McMillan