The house is a generous residence for a man who had made his way in Dunedin’s business world. Glasgow-born Cook served an engineering apprenticeship in Glasgow with Barr and Thomson, before going to sea and serving on the ships of the Anchor and Cunard lines. He came to New Zealand in 1875 as chief engineer aboard the steamer Taiaroa. In 1877, Cook came ashore and worked as attending engineer for the Union Steam Ship Company. He held that position until 1903 when he left to join Stevenson and Cook’s engineering company.
Aorangi was designed by prominent Dunedin architectural partnership Mason and Wales. The practice is New Zealand’s oldest, begun in 1863 by William Mason and Nathaniel Wales. When Mason retired, Wales became the sole partner. Wales’ son Patrick joined the firm in 1891. The firm designed many important buildings, including public and commercial buildings, as well as private houses, some substantial, like Aorangi. J. Wood built the house for a contract price of £2,302.
John Cook died in 1927. His widow Jessie stayed on in the house. On her death in 1936, Dunedin warehouseman John Ross bought Aorangi. Through the later years of the twentieth century Aorangi has been a comfortable private residence. Ross owned the house until 1951 when the house was bought by Dunedin businessman Peter Orr Smellie. University lecturer Geoffrey Jowett bought Aorangi in 1964. Since that time, Aorangi has had several changes of ownership. In 2000 Aorangi was transformed into a boutique hotel known as St Leonard’s Lodge.
In 2015, Aorangi still provides guest accommodation.
List Entry Information
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
2139
Date Entered
2nd July 1982
Date of Effect
2nd July 1982
City/District Council
Dunedin City
Region
Otago Region
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes the land described as Lot 8 and Pt Lots 6-7 Deed Plan 109 (RT OT9B/1463), Otago Land District, and the building known as Aorangi thereon. The registration does not include the adjoining new lodge building, constructed in 2001.
Legal description
Lot 8 and Pt Lots 6-7 Deed Plan 109 (RT OT9B/1463), Otago Land District
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
2139
Date Entered
2nd July 1982
Date of Effect
2nd July 1982
City/District Council
Dunedin City
Region
Otago Region
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes the land described as Lot 8 and Pt Lots 6-7 Deed Plan 109 (RT OT9B/1463), Otago Land District, and the building known as Aorangi thereon. The registration does not include the adjoining new lodge building, constructed in 2001.
Legal description
Lot 8 and Pt Lots 6-7 Deed Plan 109 (RT OT9B/1463), Otago Land District
Construction Professional
Name
Mason & Wales Architects Ltd
Type
Architectural Partnership
Biography
Mason and Wales Architects Ltd is the oldest architectural practice in New Zealand, having been founded by William Mason (1810-1897) in 1862 Dunedin. Mason was born in England, studied under Peter Nicholson and worked under Thomas Telford and Edward Blore. In 1838 he immigrated to New South Wales, and came to New Zealand in 1840. Having spent 22 years in Auckland he went to Dunedin at the time of the gold discoveries and was elected the first mayor of Dunedin in 1865. He was active in politics as well as in architecture. Mason was in partnership firstly with David Ross (1827-1908) and William Henry Clayton (1823-1877) and he took in N.Y.A. Wales (1832-1903) when Clayton left the firm to become Colonial Architect in Wellington. Wales had worked as a clerk of works and was very competent in all aspects of construction. The firm was responsible for many of Dunedin's early important buildings such as the Post Office (later known as the Exchange Building), Princes Street (1864-68), the Exhibition Building (later the Dunedin Hospital), Great King Street (1864), St Matthew's Church, Stafford Street (1873), and the Wains Hotel, Princes Street (1878). Mason and Wales designed the Abbotsford Farm Steading (1871) at Outram, Otago (NZHPT Reg. No. 7579). This farm steading was designed for James Shand, a prominent land owner, politician and businessman in the area. Mason and Wales designed another farm steading for Shand at his property Berkeley in 1881 (demolished 1981). In 1881, Mason and Wales also designed a plain concrete Chicory Kiln (NZHPT Reg. No. 3359, Cat II) at Inch Clutha, South Otago for Gregg and Coy. Mason and Wales continues today. N.Y.A. Wales (b.1927) is a fourth generation director of the firm. WALES, Nathaniel Young Armstrong (1832-1903) Wales was born in Northumberland, England, and educated at Jedburgh, Scotland. He immigrated to Australia in 1854 and found employment as a carpenter working on the buildings for the first exhibition held in Melbourne. He arrived in Dunedin about 1863, and was a clerk of works for William Mason on the old Bank of New Zealand Building (1862-64), the Post Office Building (1864-68) and the Port Chalmers Graving Dock (1868-72). Wales entered partnership with William Mason in 1871. The firm of Mason and Wales was responsible for many fine buildings in Dunedin including Bishopscourt (1873), St Matthew's Church (1873), Government Life Insurance Building (1897) and Wains Hotel (1878). Wales had military and political interests and was a Member of Parliament for some years. He occupied a seat on the Dunedin Harbour Board and was a Dunedin City Councillor. In 1895 he was elected Mayor of Dunedin. In 1900 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
Name
Wood, John
Type
Builder
Biography
Built the Blue Cliffs Station Homestead (1889).
Construction Details
Start Year
1907
Type
Original Construction
Start Year
1952
Type
Modification
Description
First floor room converted to a flat for the gardener
Start Year
2001
Type
Addition
Description
New lodge building erected
Construction Professional
Name
Mason & Wales Architects Ltd
Type
Architectural Partnership
Biography
Mason and Wales Architects Ltd is the oldest architectural practice in New Zealand, having been founded by William Mason (1810-1897) in 1862 Dunedin. Mason was born in England, studied under Peter Nicholson and worked under Thomas Telford and Edward Blore. In 1838 he immigrated to New South Wales, and came to New Zealand in 1840. Having spent 22 years in Auckland he went to Dunedin at the time of the gold discoveries and was elected the first mayor of Dunedin in 1865. He was active in politics as well as in architecture. Mason was in partnership firstly with David Ross (1827-1908) and William Henry Clayton (1823-1877) and he took in N.Y.A. Wales (1832-1903) when Clayton left the firm to become Colonial Architect in Wellington. Wales had worked as a clerk of works and was very competent in all aspects of construction. The firm was responsible for many of Dunedin's early important buildings such as the Post Office (later known as the Exchange Building), Princes Street (1864-68), the Exhibition Building (later the Dunedin Hospital), Great King Street (1864), St Matthew's Church, Stafford Street (1873), and the Wains Hotel, Princes Street (1878). Mason and Wales designed the Abbotsford Farm Steading (1871) at Outram, Otago (NZHPT Reg. No. 7579). This farm steading was designed for James Shand, a prominent land owner, politician and businessman in the area. Mason and Wales designed another farm steading for Shand at his property Berkeley in 1881 (demolished 1981). In 1881, Mason and Wales also designed a plain concrete Chicory Kiln (NZHPT Reg. No. 3359, Cat II) at Inch Clutha, South Otago for Gregg and Coy. Mason and Wales continues today. N.Y.A. Wales (b.1927) is a fourth generation director of the firm. WALES, Nathaniel Young Armstrong (1832-1903) Wales was born in Northumberland, England, and educated at Jedburgh, Scotland. He immigrated to Australia in 1854 and found employment as a carpenter working on the buildings for the first exhibition held in Melbourne. He arrived in Dunedin about 1863, and was a clerk of works for William Mason on the old Bank of New Zealand Building (1862-64), the Post Office Building (1864-68) and the Port Chalmers Graving Dock (1868-72). Wales entered partnership with William Mason in 1871. The firm of Mason and Wales was responsible for many fine buildings in Dunedin including Bishopscourt (1873), St Matthew's Church (1873), Government Life Insurance Building (1897) and Wains Hotel (1878). Wales had military and political interests and was a Member of Parliament for some years. He occupied a seat on the Dunedin Harbour Board and was a Dunedin City Councillor. In 1895 he was elected Mayor of Dunedin. In 1900 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
Name
Wood, John
Type
Builder
Biography
Built the Blue Cliffs Station Homestead (1889).
Construction Details
Start Year
1907
Type
Original Construction
Start Year
1952
Type
Modification
Description
First floor room converted to a flat for the gardener
Start Year
2001
Type
Addition
Description
New lodge building erected
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
18th March 2015
Report Written By
Heather Bauchop
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 Otago/Southland 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. A fully referenced upgrade report is available on request from the Otago/Southland Office of Heritage New Zealand.
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
18th March 2015
Report Written By
Heather Bauchop
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 Otago/Southland 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. A fully referenced upgrade report is available on request from the Otago/Southland Office of Heritage New Zealand.
Current Usages
Uses: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
Former Usages
General Usage: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
Web Links
description:
Current Usages
Uses: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
Former Usages
General Usage: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
Web Links
description:
Location
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