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'Atawhai', meaning 'warm welcome', was built for Edwin Keiller, a widower, as a healthy place to raise his children. It was designed by C.T. Natusch, the architect, and built by Arthur Bennett at the top of the bluff across the bridge from Palmerston North. At the time building materials had to be hauled up the bluff by a double pulley, although a steep access road was built at a later date. The house had 17 rooms, plus sculleries and pantries, and included a veranda facing the sun. In 1963 the Presbyterian Educational Trust bought the house and it is administered in conjunction with Massey University as a hostel for students. It is now known as Fergusson Hall.

Identification

Object type
Image
Relation
Public Photograph Collection Bur 76
Date
circa 1910 to circa 1920
Digitisation ID
2010N_Bur76_3173
Held In
Coolstore

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Creation

Created By
Place
Massey College, Palmerston North

Object rights

Taxonomy

Tags
buildings,
estate,
home,
house,
photographs,
residence,
Community Tags

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Related items

Developing the gardens at 'Atawhai', Fitzherbert
349 College Street
'Waimarama', 46 Alfred Street
11 Bourke Street
9, 11 and 15 Bourke Street
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‘The Wattles’, corner of Linton and College Streets
15 Bourke Street
Caccia Birch House, 130 Te Awe Awe Street
81 Victoria Avenue
'Sunny View", 63 Karina Terrace
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