Heritage Tour & High Tea at Pah Homestead (Ak Heritage Fest)

We return with our popular Heritage Tour & High Tea event for the Auckland Heritage Festival. Don’t delay - this will sell out!

Four Dates Available:
Saturday 7 October, 10am-12pm
Sunday 8 October, 10am-12pm
Saturday 14 October, 10am-12pm
Sunday 15 October, 10am-12pm

Tickets: $30 (groups are limited to 17) - includes morning tea
This event is part of Auckland Heritage Festival 2023

Join us for a tour of the Pah Homestead, rich in its history of colonial characters, and architectural features; with Trish Northey. You will also be treated to the Homestead Café’s special heritage-themed morning tea.

Ever wondered who was lucky enough to live in this magnificent location, considered one of the grandest nineteenth-century residences in Auckland? On this captivating tour, experienced heritage tour leader Trish Northey will regale you with stories about the Pah Homestead’s 170-year history and its intriguing past residents. Following the tour, you will be treated to the Homestead Café’s special heritage-themed morning tea.

In celebration of this year’s theme of Love, Peace & Protest, we explore the stories of Pah Homestead.

Love…Having built his fortune starting from a humble shop on the beach at New Zealand's first capital, Kororāreka / Russell. James Williamson fell in love with a dark-haired, blue-eyed Auckland beauty from London. Together they built their love-nest, known to the locals as Williamson's Castle. A two-storied Italianate home, with belvedere tower, marble fireplace in every bedroom, surrounded by parklands and harbour views.

Peace…Pah Homestead has historic connections to Potato te Wherowhero and his brother Tāmati Ngāpora who played a significant role in establishing peace between Maori Iwi after the musket wars.

Protest…Life in the 1800s was tough. Encouraging the enlistment of volunteers to fight for Queen and country in the Crimean War 1853 -1856; the Waikato Land invasion 1863 - 1864 and the Boer War 1899 - 1902, led to compulsory military training for boys, at first from as young as 12 years, then changed to 14 years. Photos from former tenants of Pah Homestead; St John's Collegiate School testify to this.