Aidanfield

Story

Aidanfield is a new suburb in the south-west of Christchurch, New Zealand, about 8km from the city centre. The land, which had been owned by the Good Shepherd Sisters since 1886 now incorporates the Mount Magdala Institute and the St John of God Chapel, which has a Category I heritage listing by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. The first residents moved into the suburb in 2002. The developer caused controversy in 2007–2008 by applying to have a group of farm buildings demolished to allow for further subdivision. Christchurch City Council was widely criticised for approving the demolition despite the buildings having had a heritage listing in the Christchurch City Plan.GeographyAidanfield is located between Halswell Road, Dunbars Road, the Christchurch Southern Motorway, the Canterbury Agricultural Park and Templetons Road.The centre of Aidanfield is about 8km from Christchurch city centre.Historic backgroundFather Laurence Ginaty established the Mount Magdala Institute in 1886 to provide a home for women and girls. It developed into an institution caring for women recently released from prison, orphans, and "unruly girls". Numerous buildings were constructed, and at its peak in the 1930s, 500 people lived on the complex. The St John of God Chapel, designed by Sidney and Alfred Luttrell and now listed as a Category I heritage structure by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, was completed in 1912.