Physical Significance

This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1993. The following text is from the original Recommendation for Registration considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Aesthetic: Mitchell House has landmark quality, standing out in a fairly commanding position on a now well used road. Architectural: This colonial New Zealand house, although dilapidated, is original throughout including original sarking, woodrange and water tanks.

Detail Of Assessed Criteria

This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1993. The following text is from the original Recommendation for Registration considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. g) The technical accomplishment or value, or design of the place: Mitchell house, built in 1883, is a typical colonial New Zealand house. The characteristic features of this functional tradition style are the rectangular form, timber frame and weatherboarding, ridged or hipped roof originally shingled but later replaced with corrugated iron, symmetrically proportioned facade and, overall, a recognisable style known as Georgian/Regency although later examples were built with additional Italianate elements or in the Gothic Revival style. Mitchell house has some interesting architectural features. These are the novel return on the left hand side of the front of the building which contains the front, main entrance and which leaves the upstairs bedroom cantilevered over the verandah; the novel position of the bay window in the middle of the verandah (normally positioned to the side forming a 'T' plan) and the fine scroll fretwork detail found on the verandah brackets, stair valance and handrail. Conclusion: Mitchell House, Vinegar Hill Rd, Tikipunga, Whangarei, is recommended for registration as a Category II as a place of historical and cultural heritage significance and value. This aesthetically pleasing, simple colonial house has retained many of its original architectural features and has landmark significance in this rural community.