While the building was still under construction Ellison was hospitalised at Porirua Lunatic Asylum. It was agreed to sell the house and part of the property to a Pauatahanui farmer, Joseph Blackey. Ellison died before the transaction was completed and it was not until 1905 that the house and 34 acres [13.79 hectares) were transferred to Blackey.
The house remained in the ownership of the Blackey family for 43 years, and the area became known as Blackey's Gully. Between 1917 and 1920 the house was leased to Dr H.E. Owen, who set up a part time surgery in the house. Later occupants included: Richard Geary de Gauchy, the Assistant Manager of the Port Shipping Line; the New Zealand film producer Roger Mirams (who purchased the property in 1953); and Monsieur Eugene Louis Lestocquoy, Croix de Guerre, Trade Commissioner for France (who leased the house from Mirams from 1956 to 1960). The house has undergone a number of alterations, some of which were carried out to the plans of the architect Bernard Johns in the 1950s. Part of the land has been subdivided for housing.
Glenwood was one of the first more substantial homes to be built in the eastern bays, and is architecturally interesting for Bennie and Farr's unusual combination of Edwardian bay villa and Queen Anne styles. The house's interior features a keyhole shaped hall, ending in an eight-sided room with a high-domed stained glass ceiling. A fountain that was once the centrepiece of this octagon has been moved outside. The house is of considerable historical interest for its association with Thomas Ellison, for whom the house was built, and the long-time Eastbourne identities, the Blackey family. Glenwood has also had a number of other interesting occupants.
List Entry Information
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
3577
Date Entered
28th June 1984
Date of Effect
28th June 1984
City/District Council
Hutt City
Region
Wellington Region
Legal description
Lot 1 DP 75547
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
3577
Date Entered
28th June 1984
Date of Effect
28th June 1984
City/District Council
Hutt City
Region
Wellington Region
Legal description
Lot 1 DP 75547
Construction Professional
Name
Bennie, James
Type
Architect
Biography
Bennie was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, immigrated to New Zealand in 1880 and settled in Brunnertown near Greymouth. In the early 1890s he attended the Working Men's College in Melbourne, Australia, where he studied under artist and architect Thomas Searell. On completion of his studies he returned to Greymouth and set up in practice as an architect. In 1902 Bennie moved to Wellington and went into practice with E C Farr before establishing his own practice in 1905. Some of Bennie's designs include the Albermarle Hotel, Wellington (1905), the Carnegie Library at Levin (1910), the Karori Methodist Church (1912), and the Oriental Bay Tea Kiosk (1912, demolished 1978). He designed a number of theatres including Kings (1910), Queens (1916), the Crown (1916) and Paramount (1917), all in Wellington and was also responsible for the design of many houses including the Wedge, Glenbervie Terrace (1906) and Bennie house, Salamanca road (1907) both in Wellington. He also had an interest in prefabricated house design. Bennie was an inaugural member of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, founded in 1905, and was later elected a Fellow. He retired in 1935 and his son Malcolm took over the Wellington practice. [Source: an advertisment in the Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 58, 5 September 1902, Page 7 confirms that Bennie entered into partnership with E C Farr on 14 August 1902].
Construction Details
Start Year
1904
Type
Original Construction
Type
Modification
Description
Removal of fountain from entrance hall
Period
1920s
Type
Modification
Description
Included construction of sun-room, remodelling of kitchen, and portion of main verandah enclosed
Period
1950s
Start Year
1971
Type
Modification
Description
Included removal of sun-room, and conversion of a bedroom to a bathroom
Start Year
2000
Type
Modification
Description
Removal of stone arches, and construction of garage
Construction Professional
Name
Bennie, James
Type
Architect
Biography
Bennie was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, immigrated to New Zealand in 1880 and settled in Brunnertown near Greymouth. In the early 1890s he attended the Working Men's College in Melbourne, Australia, where he studied under artist and architect Thomas Searell. On completion of his studies he returned to Greymouth and set up in practice as an architect. In 1902 Bennie moved to Wellington and went into practice with E C Farr before establishing his own practice in 1905. Some of Bennie's designs include the Albermarle Hotel, Wellington (1905), the Carnegie Library at Levin (1910), the Karori Methodist Church (1912), and the Oriental Bay Tea Kiosk (1912, demolished 1978). He designed a number of theatres including Kings (1910), Queens (1916), the Crown (1916) and Paramount (1917), all in Wellington and was also responsible for the design of many houses including the Wedge, Glenbervie Terrace (1906) and Bennie house, Salamanca road (1907) both in Wellington. He also had an interest in prefabricated house design. Bennie was an inaugural member of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, founded in 1905, and was later elected a Fellow. He retired in 1935 and his son Malcolm took over the Wellington practice. [Source: an advertisment in the Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 58, 5 September 1902, Page 7 confirms that Bennie entered into partnership with E C Farr on 14 August 1902].
Construction Details
Start Year
1904
Type
Original Construction
Type
Modification
Description
Removal of fountain from entrance hall
Period
1920s
Type
Modification
Description
Included construction of sun-room, remodelling of kitchen, and portion of main verandah enclosed
Period
1950s
Start Year
1971
Type
Modification
Description
Included removal of sun-room, and conversion of a bedroom to a bathroom
Start Year
2000
Type
Modification
Description
Removal of stone arches, and construction of garage
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
15th August 2001
Report Written By
Helen McCracken
Information Sources
Beaglehole, 2001
Ann Beaglehole with Alison Carew, Eastbourne: A History of the Eastern Bays of Wellington Harbour, The Historical Society of Eastbourne Inc., Eastbourne, 2001
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
Hutt City Council
Hutt City Council
Other Information
This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Central Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
15th August 2001
Report Written By
Helen McCracken
Information Sources
Beaglehole, 2001
Ann Beaglehole with Alison Carew, Eastbourne: A History of the Eastern Bays of Wellington Harbour, The Historical Society of Eastbourne Inc., Eastbourne, 2001
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
Hutt City Council
Hutt City Council
Other Information
This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Central Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.
Current Usages
Uses: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
Former Usages
General Usage: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
Current Usages
Uses: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
Former Usages
General Usage: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
Location
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