The Heritage Park at Kiwi North is home to the 1886 “Glorat” Clarke Homestead. The Homestead sits on its original site with magnificent views over the harbour to distant Mount Manaia. Built by Dr Alexander Clarke and his wife Mary settling in Whangarei in 1884, this kauri villa was then lived in by two further generations of the family. As only the one family ever occupied the home it remains in remarkably original condition, a rare survivor. It is a grade 2 listed Heritage NZ building, a museum in its own right, and occupies a significant place in the history of Whangarei. Alexander and Mary are buried on the park.
Other heritage buildings moved onto the park include the unique octagonal c1860s Oruaiti Chapel, the original jail cells for the women of Whangarei c1900, Riponui Pah School c1898, and the roof turret of another early Whangarei homestead, “Pukenui”, built by ‘timber king’ Francis Mander in 1906. His daughter, the renowned early New Zealand author Jane Mander, used this as her study.
Heritage Park is also home to many vintage restoration clubs and societies who welcome visitors on the days their workshops are open. For more information on these clubs click here.
