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© Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga 2026.
 
Springbank

290 Riverlaw Terrace, Opawa, CHRISTCHURCH

Private

Historic Place Category 2

List No. 3730

Quick links:
List GalleryLocationDetails
This two-storey villa situated near the Heathcote River in Christchurch is associated with Aaron Ayers. Ayers arrived in New Zealand in 1860 and worked as a barber/tobacconist for twenty years. He then became a senior partner in the auctioneering firm of Ayers, Beauchamp & Co. Ayers was on the Christchurch City Council in 1878 and was the Mayor of Christchurch from 1886-7 . His house 'Springbank' was later owned by the Trist family, which owned Trist & Small Saddlerly Company. The house is built from matai with a slate roof and is locally significant as an early villa and because of its association with a former Mayor of Christchurch.
Original image submitted at time of registration | C Cochran | 09/06/1984 | NZHPT Field Record Form Collection
Original image submitted at time of registration | C Cochran | 09/06/1984 | NZHPT Field Record Form Collection

List Entry Information

Overview

Status
Listed

List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2

Access
Private/No Public Access

List Number
3730

Date Entered
6th September 1984

Date of Effect
6th September 1984

City/District Council
Christchurch City

Region
Canterbury Region

Legal description

Lot 1 DP 28141

Location Description

Springbank is a colonial house built overlooking the Heathcote River, for its contribution to the historic character of St Martins. The property originally encompassed a large block of land between Hills Road (now Wilsons Road) and the river. For many years after its construction Springbank would have stood within a rural environment until the residential development of the suburb took place during the first four decades of the 20th century. Today the setting consists of the immediate land parcel on which the listed building is located close to the southern boundary. The dwelling stands on an elevated site in a mature garden setting, which includes a listed southern magnolia on the north-west aspect of the garden. A concrete retaining wall with timber paling fence above defines the boundary of the Riverlaw Terrace street frontage. The house is a local landmark due to its age and colonial styling.

Detailed List Entry

Construction Details

Start Year

1860

Type

Original Construction

Reference

Completion Date

15th August 2001

Report Written By

Melanie Lovell-Smith

Report Written By

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 Southern 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.

Further Information

Current Usages

Uses: Accommodation

Specific Usage: House

Former Usages

General Usage:: Accommodation

Specific Usage: House

Themes

Web Links

Overview

Status

Listed

List Entry Status

Historic Place Category 2

Access

Private/No Public Access

List Number

3730

Date Entered

6th September 1984

Date of Effect

6th September 1984

City/District Council

Christchurch City

Region

Canterbury Region

Legal description

Lot 1 DP 28141

Location Description

Springbank is a colonial house built overlooking the Heathcote River, for its contribution to the historic character of St Martins. The property originally encompassed a large block of land between Hills Road (now Wilsons Road) and the river. For many years after its construction Springbank would have stood within a rural environment until the residential development of the suburb took place during the first four decades of the 20th century. Today the setting consists of the immediate land parcel on which the listed building is located close to the southern boundary. The dwelling stands on an elevated site in a mature garden setting, which includes a listed southern magnolia on the north-west aspect of the garden. A concrete retaining wall with timber paling fence above defines the boundary of the Riverlaw Terrace street frontage. The house is a local landmark due to its age and colonial styling.

Status

Listed

List Entry Status

Historic Place Category 2

Access

Private/No Public Access

List Number

3730

Date Entered

6th September 1984

Date of Effect

6th September 1984

City/District Council

Christchurch City

Region

Canterbury Region

Legal description

Lot 1 DP 28141

Location Description

Springbank is a colonial house built overlooking the Heathcote River, for its contribution to the historic character of St Martins. The property originally encompassed a large block of land between Hills Road (now Wilsons Road) and the river. For many years after its construction Springbank would have stood within a rural environment until the residential development of the suburb took place during the first four decades of the 20th century. Today the setting consists of the immediate land parcel on which the listed building is located close to the southern boundary. The dwelling stands on an elevated site in a mature garden setting, which includes a listed southern magnolia on the north-west aspect of the garden. A concrete retaining wall with timber paling fence above defines the boundary of the Riverlaw Terrace street frontage. The house is a local landmark due to its age and colonial styling.

Construction Information

Construction Details

Start Year

1860

startYearCirca

Type

Original Construction

Construction Details

Start Year

1860

startYearCirca

Type

Original Construction

Reference

Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau

Completion Date

15th August 2001

Report Written By

Melanie Lovell-Smith

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 Southern 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

Melanie Lovell-Smith

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 Southern 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.

Further Information

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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