Luxury new 3 bdrm home | 4 beds | 2 baths
250 Kilmore stands out as a beacon that highlights our history at the same time as demonstrating the quality results that skilled craftmanship can achieve.
Lianne Dalziel, Mayor of Christchurch 2013-2022
Civic Trust Award
The Christchurch Civic Trust noted, "the meticulous restoration had ensured the home remained as a reminder of the city’s vibrant history." The owners were recognised for their "initiative & commitment...retaining & restoring a house of important heritage character."
Owners, Simone & Joe with builder, Glenn Ziarno
Supporting our Heritage Festival
We opened the blue 'Disney' door to Christchurch residents for the first time in 2023 to support Christchurch City Council's Heritage Festival.
We were thrilled to receive rave reviews and over fifty people came on a tour. We're looking forward to hosting an open day in October 2025.
Community Pride Garden Awards
It was lovely to receive a community pride garden award for our contribution toward maintaining Christchurch as the Garden City.
Launched in 1950, the Street and Garden Awards encourage civic pride to boost the local environment.
David Moyle from Christchurch Beautifying Association presented me with the happy news!
Recognised by Heritage New Zealand
"New lease of life for EQ-damaged historic worker’s cottage...
Public accolades flow for the detailed and sympathetic rebuild of this Kilmore Street worker’s cottage in central Ōtautahi....
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Director, Christine Whybrew, was impressed with a recent tour of the cottage. "Although much of the cottage has been reconstructed, it is a post-quake good news story. Simone and Joe have taken a stand and invested in retaining an important part of the heritage streetscape.”
Read full article - Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga - Nov 2023
"Restoration preserve heritage charm...
"On the sunny front veranda at 250 Kilmore Street, it’s easy to feel a sense of continuity with the city’s past. A sympathetic restoration has preserved this lovely little house, carefully honouring its heritage character...."
Read full article in Avenues magazine - Mar 2023
Shortlisted in the 2023 Canterbury Architecture Awards
Forty-eight projects were shortlisted for nine awards in the 2023 Canterbury Architecture Awards. 250 Kilmore featured in the 'small project architecture' category. The shortlisted projects were selected from entries in the awards programme of the Canterbury branch of Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects.
Bold colours, Rich history
Red house blue door
Neighbourhood heritage
Aroha mai, aroha atu
The 'red house blue door' is inspired by Scandinavian homes that Simone saw as an exchange student in Sweden.
A guest review describing the house as 'Red House Blue Door' inspired us to reserve the .com domain so it's easy to find us; RedhouseBluedoor.com
Aroha mai, aroha atu
Neighbourhood heritage
Aroha mai, aroha atu
'Spreading the love' – Alys Phillips from Mitchell Decorators applies Resene Aroha, a deep red, full of heart and loyal. Aroha mai, aroha atu - love received love returned.
'Habitat' by Resene explores the full palette of colours inside and out "Bold Colours, Rich History"
Neighbourhood heritage
Neighbourhood heritage
Neighbourhood heritage
Less than 200 metres away is iconic English pub Pomeroy's, also painted in rich red so we felt the colours fitted into a theme was emerging for heritage buildings in the neighbourhood.
Before restoration
The foundations were damaged in the 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquakes and the opportunity to restore 250 Kilmore was realised in 2023.
The current owners, Simone Pearson and Joe Tonner, lived behind 250 Kilmore for eight years before they were successful purchasing the home at an auction in 2016.
The purchase enabled Simone and Joe to protect a huge English Elm tree and their home's northerly aspect. They moved the fence to create a garden oasis in what was the adjoining back yard of 250. Their home, built in 2004, was designed by William Fulton in a heritage style sympathetic to the existing heritage fabric of surrounding dwellings. William joined the team again for the restoration of 250.
A tall fence hid the house & garden prior to the purchase & restoration by current owners.
Historical significance
250 Kilmore Street is estimated to have been built in 1881, about forty years after the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. It is listed as a significant heritage item in the Christchurch District Plan:
"250 Kilmore Street has historical and social significance as inner city colonial-era dwelling, an early example of many similar homes built in the period 1875-1910 to house the city’s working population in this part of the city near the Avon River" - Listed Heritage Place Heritage Assessment - statement of significance 2015
This dwelling is considered "a now rare reminder of this era of dwelling in this part of central Christchurch."
Willow St, just around the corner, just after 250 Kilmore was built circa 1881. Reference
Alfred Walter Money
Alfred Walter Money
Alfred Walter Money
Alfred Walter Money
Alfred's painted portrait from Alfred's great nephew, Brian Carpenter's, collection.
A W M
Alfred Walter Money
Alfred Walter Money
Alfred's stylised initials 'A' 'W' 'M' engraved onto the lid of the silver inkwell.
Rob Roy memento
Alfred Walter Money
Rob Roy memento
Alfred's prized horse, Rob Roy, hoof repurposed as inkwell with silver lid.
"Young Money could do almost anything but work"
Alfred W. Money - a colourful entrepreneur
Land once earmarked for Christchurch's Slaughter House was subdivided and a small lane for access added to create small sections to house the city's working people. The land of 250 Kilmore Street was first leased in 1859 by a young English immigrant called Alfred Walter Money. He built the house in 1881 and owned it until he died after falling from a tram at the age of 81 in 1909.
A local Christchurch resident, John Hall, recorded his misgivings about Alfred in a letter; "Young Money could do almost anything but work. I fear he will never do any good."
Mr Money proved, however, that he had plenty of ideas and the ability to turn them into action.
For example, five years prior to immigrating to NZ, aged twenty-four years, Alfred lodged a patent invention for an 'improved bridle' for horses.
His passion for horses persevered and aged thirty years, Alfred opened the 'Canterbury Livery, Bait, and Commission Stables' in Market Place, now Victoria Square (ref). He owned a horse called 'Rob Roy' that won the Lottery Plate at the Canterbury Jockey Club meeting in 1861. Subsequently, Alfred had Rob Roy's hoof repurposed into an inkwell and is pictured above from the Carpenter Family collection.
Alfred Walter Money leased the land 250 Kilmore Street is located on in 1859.
Alfred's obituary records his other ventures, "He was a very energetic member of the Canterbury A&P Association" ... "After being engaged in the butchery trade he became licensee of the Oxford Hotel, and later of the Carlton Hotel. Some years ago he took a prominent part in a movement to enable steam vessels of light draught to run between the city and New Brighton, and he was the owner of the little steamer Avonia, which plied for some time between the city and New Brighton."
Alfred and his wife, Annie, amassed considerable wealth but had no children. Upon their deaths, money was left to their siblings and descendants, plus many Christchurch and NZ charities. The value of the estate in today's terms is NZ $19 million.
Following Money's death, the property, then numbered 35 Kilmore, was offered for sale and described in the Lyttelton Times newspaper at this time as;
"a compact little property situated on corner of Kilmore Street and Carter's Lane, let to a good tenant. The house consists of five large rooms, three fire places, a good hall, scullery, pantry, washhouse with copper, large shed, gas laid on, a wide verandah, asphalt paths, a good iron fence, and sewer connections".
Money’s estate accounts indicate that the property sold to the tenant, Frederick White, for £250 in 1911. Frederick was a 'lamplighter' employed to literally light and maintain candles or, later, gas street lights.
Extensive notes on Alfred have been recorded by early settler researcher, George MacDonald in 1952-1964 (see notes) and more recently by local historian and writer, Stephen Symons (see notes).
Alfred Walter Money's, Great Nephew, Brian Carpenter, and his daughter Wendy visit 250 Kilmore.
Securing for future generations...
In the 1990's Keith Preen purchased 250 and a seven year-long restoration breathed new life into the house and helped secure its future at that time. Keith reflects ..."There is nothing I've ever done that has given me such a sense of pride and satisfaction as breathing new life into that house gives me even today."
Restoration and repair was no small task as the last tenants before Keith were Alf's Imperial Army. Keith says "everything inside had been painted red, white & blue" .
Twenty years later, current owners, Simone and Joe proudly restored the increasingly rare heritage building in the city centre and have secured it for the future.
“This has been here for 140 years and will continue to be here for another 140 years.” says Simone.
After more than 140 years in the same spot, a heritage cottage goes on a short holiday read more
Heritage Kilmore Street
Nestled in the midblock, between heritage bookends, 250 stands as a rare reminder of a historic home. Since the Canterbury Earthquakes, apartments galore have been built in Kilmore Street and central city.
At the east end of the Kilmore Street block is Pomeroy's Old Brewery and Little Pom's Cafe
NZ Heritage List / Rārangi Kōrero Heritage NZ: 'Wards Brewery Historic Area'
At the west end of the Kilmore Street block is 'Make' - a restored commercial property.
NZ Heritage List / Rārangi Kōrero Heritage NZ: Commercial building