University House, Auckland

University House is a 19th-century building in Auckland, New Zealand, that originally served as the synagogue for the city's Jewish population. The building is situated on Princes Street, adjacent to Albert Park, and is now occupied by the University of Auckland.

University House, Auckland
The Princes Street frontage of the building in 2009
General information
Architectural styleMoorish Revival architecture
Location19A Princes Street
Town or cityAuckland
CountryNew Zealand
Coordinates36.848773°S 174.769244°E / -36.848773; 174.769244
Completed1885
Design and construction
Architect(s)Edward Bartley
Designated27 June 1985
Reference no.578
References
"Synagogue (Former)". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand.

History

A Jewish community had been present in Auckland since its founding in 1840. The synagogue building was designed and built by Edward Bartley in 1884–1885 in a Romanesque style, incorporating Gothic and Moorish design elements.[1][2] The foundation stone was laid by David Nathan (1816–1886), an early Jewish settler and founder of the L.D. Nathan chain of stores,[3] and the synagogue opened on 9 November 1885.[4] The building could seat 375 people.[5] It was built on the site of an earlier military guardhouse[6] associated with Albert Barracks. In 1967 the congregation moved to larger premises on Greys Avenue, overlooking Myers Park,[7] and the Princes Street synagogue was deconsecrated in 1969.[5] The construction of the synagogue was a statement by the Jewish community in Auckland of not only status, but of their acceptance in the local community.[2]

In 1967, the congregation moved to a new premises on Greys Avenue.[2] Ownership of the property reverted to Auckland City Council as part of the Albert Park Reserve following the deconsecration.[8] The building was left vacant and deteriorated over the next two decades, until it was carefully restored under the direction of Salmond Reed Architects[8] in 1989 to serve as a branch of the National Bank.[9] The University of Auckland has leased it since 2003,[10] and it now houses the University's Alumni Relations and Development department (formerly called External Relations).[11]

The building has a Category I listing with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.[6]

References
  1. Heritage Walks – The Engineering Heritage of Auckland Archived 14 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Tourism Auckland. ISBN 0-908960-46-8.
  2. Haworth, Jenny (2016). Auckland Then and Now. United Kingdom: Pavilion Books. p. 54-55. ISBN 978-1-910904-79-4. Wikidata Q116870435.
  3. Mogford, Janice C. "Nathan, David". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  4. Mara Weiss. The Jewish Virtual History Tour, New Zealand. Retrieved 12 May 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  5. "Historic city synagogue for sale". The New Zealand Herald. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  6. "Synagogue (Former)". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  7. Anéne Cusins-Lewer and Julia Gatley. The 'Myers Park Experiment' (1913–1916) and its Legacy in Auckland. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  8. "Former Synagogue Conversion, Auckland". Salmond Reed Architects. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  9. Old Jewish Synagogue, January 2006, Architecture Archive, University of Auckland Library. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  10. Diana Morrow. The University Heritage Trail, University of Auckland Business School. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  11. "Contact us". University of Auckland. Retrieved 10 March 2018.

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