PHOTO: Queen Elizabeth II. FILE
Historic Clark House in Hobsonville, Once Linked to Royalty, Sold!
The historic Clark House in Auckland’s Hobsonville, famously once listed under the ownership of Her Majesty the Queen, has finally been sold. This iconic property, one of New Zealand’s most viewed homes, caught significant attention in late 2022 due to its unusual royal association following the Queen’s death earlier that year.
Though the property gained headlines suggesting royal ownership, in reality, neither King Charles III nor the Queen had individual ownership. The title was held by the Crown, with the New Zealand Defence Force using the estate for RNZAF operations from 1950 to 2016.
The historic Clark House in Auckland’s Hobsonville. Photo: Supplied / Harcourts
Previously listed for over $5.2 million, the 1.9-hectare estate boasts a CV of $16.58 million and a category 1 Historic Places listing. The final sale price remains undisclosed, as per Harcourts agents speaking to OneRoof.
25-59 Clark Road Hobsonville. Photo: Supplied / Harcourts
Built in 1902 by English ceramics entrepreneur Rice Owen Clark II, the Italianate-style villa was a showcase for his experimental glazed, hollow ceramic blocks. The residence features ornate iron-lace verandas, intricate kauri ceilings, and elaborate decorative tilework, making it one of New Zealand’s finest historic homes.
25-59 Clark Road Hobsonville. Photo: Supplied / Harcourts
The Clark family owned the property until selling it to the Crown in 1950 for £8000. The RNZAF later repurposed it as a Task Force Headquarters, hosting high-level Cold War meetings, including a 1955 SEATO conference. In 1967, it became the home of the Aviation Medicine Unit, featuring the RNZAF’s only decompression chamber.
The property, which requires restoration, includes 10 large rooms, stained glass windows, and a grand staircase. Its historical significance and unique features continue to captivate property enthusiasts and historians alike.
Onekiritea, or the Hobsonville Peninsula, holds deep cultural and ancestral significance for Te Kawerau ā Maki, who lived there before European settlement. The area was vital for fishing, food gathering, and kūmara cultivation, reflected in place names like Te Waiarohia o Ngāriki, Tahingamanu, and Te Taungaroa.
The land was subdivided and sold to European settlers, including Clark, after the Crown acquired it in 1853. Today, Clark House stands as a testament to New Zealand’s rich history and architectural heritage.
25-59 Clark Road, Hobsonville. Photo: Supplied / Harcourts
SOURCE: RNZ
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