Scaled Down

Built from Kauri in 1899 for the 78 year old Scottish bachelor Allan McLean who made his fortune in sheep farming, 'McLean’s Mansion' as it is now called was designed by the England brothers and amongst other features, the facade has a striking Jacobean gable and two impressive ogee domes. 

Once the largest wooden building in New Zealand, this huge residence comprises 53 rooms including 19 bedrooms, nine bathrooms and six servant rooms. The interior fittings featured beautifully coffered ceilings, elaborate plaster mouldings, finely crafted balustrades and richly decorated newel posts on the stairs.

Sadly, McLean's Mansion suffered extensive damage during the 2011 earthquakes and despite exhaustive efforts  by its owners and by Heritage New Zealand to safeguard the future of  this Category 1 Heritage building which at one stage was issued with a demolition notice by The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA), there has been no certainty that a full restoration would ever take place.

However, McLean's Mansion is currently being offered for sale and although buyers are slow to commit themselves to such an extensive project,  there are now positive signs that this magnificent heritage  building with so much rich history might one day be brought back to its former glory.