Built between 1841 and 1845 Langlois Étévenaux House is one of the oldest surviving houses in Canterbury.
Constructed in the Louis-Philippe style the house has a simple elegance with its high pitched roof, neat weather boarding, mock pilasters, cornices, unusual inward opening casement windows and air vents under the eaves. The two-roomed cottage is well proportioned and the elevations have an attractive symmetry. There is a suggestion that it may have been pre-fabricated in France.
The original owner, Aimable Langlois, was the brother of a whaling captain and in charge of the Nanto-Bordelaise Company store. The house was later owned by Pierre Étévenaux after whom it is also named.
It was taken over by the Akaroa County Council and with the help of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust it was opened in 1964 after it had been restored and furnished according to the period. Behind the house is an attractive museum which has on display Maori and European relics from the peninsula's history.
The endearing, almost doll's house appearance of the Langlois Étévenaux House, its public regard and links with the French settlement of Akaroa make it of undoubted importance historically and architecturally.
List Entry Information
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
264
Date Entered
2nd April 1985
Date of Effect
2nd April 1985
City/District Council
Christchurch City
Region
Canterbury Region
Extent of List Entry
The extent includes part of the land described as Pt Res 5118 (RT CB138/125, NZ Gazette 1980 p. 95), Canterbury Land District and the building known as Langlois-Eteveneaux House (Former) thereon. Refer to the extent map tabled at the Heritage New Zealand Board meeting on 25 June 2015.
Legal description
Pt Res 5118 (RT CB138/125, NZ Gazette 1980 p. 95), Canterbury Land District
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
264
Date Entered
2nd April 1985
Date of Effect
2nd April 1985
City/District Council
Christchurch City
Region
Canterbury Region
Extent of List Entry
The extent includes part of the land described as Pt Res 5118 (RT CB138/125, NZ Gazette 1980 p. 95), Canterbury Land District and the building known as Langlois-Eteveneaux House (Former) thereon. Refer to the extent map tabled at the Heritage New Zealand Board meeting on 25 June 2015.
Legal description
Pt Res 5118 (RT CB138/125, NZ Gazette 1980 p. 95), Canterbury Land District
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
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. This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. The following text is the original citation considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Information in square brackets indicate modifications made after the paper was considered by the NZHPT Board.
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
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. This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. The following text is the original citation considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Information in square brackets indicate modifications made after the paper was considered by the NZHPT Board.
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
