The Location
Sitting upon an elevated landmark site in heritage-rich Parnell, One Saint Stephens will strike a balance between bringing a contemporary design aesthetic to St Stephens Corner and complementing the Victorian and early 20th century architecture that surrounds it.
Originally the land was purchased by Bishop Selwyn in 1842 from the founder of Parnell, Robert Tod. With its high vantage point, and commanding 360° views, the land was ideal for building churches; the current Holy Trinity Cathedral is only the latest of several fine churches to stand in this unique position.
One Saint Stephens will share this historic site with the Anglican Cathedral, while also acting as sentry to one of Auckland’s most historic and prestigious streets. St Stephens Avenue has seen more than its share of the rich and the famous; among its notable current residents is Sir John Key, former Prime Minister of New Zealand.
ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL
Also known as Holy Trinity Cathedral, it stands at the top of the hill, and is the most distinctive structure in Parnell. The building is in two parts: the brick choir and body of the church date from 1960 and represent a modern simplified version of Gothic. The front part of the church, built in the 1990s to the design of Professor Richard Toy and John Sinclair, has echoes of Coventry Cathedral built after World War II.
NELIGAN HOUSE
A fine Arts & Crafts brick residence built for Bishop Neligan in 1908.
ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL
Next to Holy Trinity Cathedral stands the smaller St Mary’s, a wooden neo-Gothic structure dating from 1885. Until the current cathedral was built, it served as the cathedral following the demolition of an earlier St Mary’s.
BISHOPSCOURT
Also known as Selwyn Court, this is the residence of the Anglican Bishop of Auckland. This wooden gothic house has a chapel and an octagonal turret.
THE OLD DEANERY
This neo-Tudor house is built from volcanic scoria rock. This is probably the birthplace of the novelist Hugh Walpole whose father was Dean of the Cathedral at the time.