Kate Sheppard House

Story

The Kate Sheppard House is a historic home in Clyde Road in the Christchurch suburb of Ilam, bordering onto the University of Canterbury. For 14 years, it was the home of the leader of New Zealand's women's suffrage campaign, Kate Sheppard, during her active period. It was later the family home of the 30th Mayor of Christchurch, John Joseph Dougall. It is registered as a Category 1 heritage place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust for its outstanding historical significance in relation to Sheppard.HistoryThe land for the house was purchased for ₤400 in November 1887 by Walter Sheppard, since 1871 the husband of Kate Sheppard. The land, in size, had previously been part of the Deans estate. It was neighbouring the house of her younger sister Isabella, whose husband had bought their land in 1884, and not far from her elder sister Marie's house, who lived on Riccarton Road. Some from the city centre, at the time the area was rural. The Sheppards moved into their villa in 1888.After Kate Sheppard became the leader of the women's suffrage campaign, many important and influential people were frequent visitors. Strong supporters of Sheppard were the MPs John Hall and Alfred Saunders. Rev Leonard Isitt and Tommy Taylor would later gain prominence.