In 1886, a grand Italianate building arose on Richmond Road. This was Carlile House, originally the Costley Training Institute. Edward Costley’s generous bequest of £12,500 made this possible. The initial cost was substantial: £1025 for the land, £2830 for construction, and a further £703 for furnishings and landscaping. Carlile House wasn’t always an orphanage. It started as a training center for boys, offering apprenticeships in various trades. The closure of the Auckland Industrial School in 1896 led to a decline in residents. The Institute eventually closed in 1908. The building then transitioned into the Richmond Road Children’s Home for two decades. Stories of fires and deaths during this period are likely untrue, as no newspaper records corroborate them. After the 1931 Hawkes Bay earthquake, Carlile House temporarily sheltered Hukarere Maori Girls’ School. From 1935 to 1969, it served as the headquarters and training school for the Church Army, taking on its current name in honor of Wilson Carlile, the organization’s founder. In the early 1970s, it briefly operated as a remand home and then the Auckland Alternative School. The United Church of Tonga purchased Carlile House around 1976-1977 and remains the current owner. In 2002, the building’s history inspired two dance performances, “The Carlile House Project” and “Strange Fruit,” which explored the experiences of Tongan immigrants to New Zealand. Today, Carlile House stands as a Heritage New Zealand Category 1 Historic Place, although sadly dilapidated. Water damage, missing window glazing, deteriorating roofing, and the aftermath of fires in 2003 and 2013 have taken their toll. Despite its current state, Carlile House holds a significant place in Auckland’s history. Its walls have witnessed numerous transformations. The building echoes the stories of the boys who trained there, the children who found shelter within its walls, and the Tongan community who have made it their own.
Carlile House
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