Highwic

Story

The Sweet Villa of HighwicHighwic is a historic house in Newmarket, New Zealand that was formerly registered by New Zealand Historic Places Trust (now Heritage New Zealand) as a Category I structure and is also one of AA Travel's "101 Must-Do's for Kiwis". Highwic is open to the public Wednesday to Sunday from 10.30 to 4.30. Highwic is available for weddings, birthday celebrations, photography, filming, television and corporate functions. Highwic has an education programme that is suitable for learners of all ages, with a particular emphasis on the primary age range.Origin and constructionHighwic is a large house of Carpenter Gothic design that was built for a wealthy colonial settler and landowner - Alfred Buckland. The building was erected in an elevated position looking out over the nineteenth-century township of Newmarket. In 1861, the land was purchased by Alfred's first wife Eliza for £1,000. The family with seven children, moved into the house in 1862. Eliza Buckland had two more children during her short time alive in her new house, she died of pneumonia in July 1866. The original eight room house was extended in 1874, 1883 and 1884 as the Buckland family grew bigger and their wealth increased.Alfred Buckland married Matilda Jane Frodsham in May 1867. Matilda was twenty years younger than Alfred and went on to have eleven children of her own, nine of them surviving to adulthood. Matilda outlived Alfred, spending her declining years at Highiwc.