Debates about spending too much or too little have echoed through the halls of Premier House for decades. Here we are at 260 Tinakori Road. This is Premier House. It is the official residence of New Zealand’s Prime Minister. Imagine the decisions made within these walls.
Premier House’s story stretches back to 1843. Wellington’s first Mayor George Hunter built the original house. Nathaniel Levin later owned it. In early March 1865, the government bought it from Richard Collins. It became the Premier’s official residence. The Evening Post deemed the £2,900 price cheap. The Daily Southern Cross called it one of the handsomest villas. But, The New Zealand Herald saw it as illegal extravagance.
The house remained mostly unchanged until Julius Vogel and his wife Mary arrived in 1873. They transformed it into an eight-bedroom mansion within a year. It gained a conservatory and ballroom. The grounds boasted what is thought to be the country’s first tennis court. The Vogels’ lavish parties earned Premier House the nickname “The Casino”.
Fast forward to 1935. Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage faced the Great Depression. He chose to live in Seddon’s former residence instead. Premier House became a school for dental nurses. Children knew it as “the murder house”. It held up to 50 dental chairs. During the war, the garden grew vegetables for the Armed Forces Service Clubs.
By the 1980s, Premier House had fallen into disrepair. Michael Bassett, Minister of Internal Affairs, spearheaded its restoration. In 1988, it gained a Category 1 Historic Place ranking.
Between 1989 and 1991, Grant Group Architects and L. T. McGuinness Construction undertook the restoration. The internal walls remained. Most rooms stayed in their original positions. They installed fire sprinklers, central heating, air conditioning, and a new lift. The interior now features 19th-century period details and New Zealand art.
Premier House was renamed. It became a 1990 Sesquicentennial project. Geoffrey Palmer and his wife Margaret were its first official residents after the restoration.
Since 1990, many Prime Ministers have called this place home. They include Geoffrey Palmer, Mike Moore, Jim Bolger, Jenny Shipley, Helen Clark, John Key, and Jacinda Ardern. Bill English did not live here during his term. He was a Wellington-based MP. He could not claim taxpayer-funded accommodation in the capital. Chris Hipkins also did not live here for the same reason. He used it for official functions.
Christopher Luxon initially lived in his own apartment. He cited maintenance issues. He later moved in after renovations in September 2024. In early March 2024, Heritage New Zealand acknowledged the building’s dishevelled state. Tommy’s Real Estate suggested demolition. They claimed it would be cheaper than renovating.
In late March 2024, a report suggested several options for Premier House’s future. These ranged from long-term maintenance to full refurbishment. The Premier House Board favoured full refurbishment.
Today, Premier House stands on 1.5 hectares. Its rateable value in 2020 was NZ$23,300,000. It remains a significant piece of New Zealand’s history. It is a place where leaders make decisions that shape the nation. As we leave Premier House, consider the weight of history. Think of the debates. Imagine the lives lived within its walls. Its story continues to unfold.