Hamilton City Council
624 Grey Street, Hamilton East (Formerly 202 Heaphy Tce)
Hamilton Building Inventory 2010
Physical and Social History
Oliver Cromwell Schofield, born in Lancashire, England and who
became Chief Engineer at Waikato Hospital, designed and built the
dwelling at 202 Heaphy Tce, Hamilton East.
O. C. Schofield and wife Ada arrived in Hamilton from England in
1902/03. His father John Schofield followed them out later and
brought a small colonial cottage from Mr. Joseph Proctor at what
was then 202 Heaphy Tce, Claudelands. John Schofield sent to
England for his wife Grace to come to New Zealand. John died in
1913 and the property was passed to his wife Grace. When Grace
died in 1921 O. C. Schofield brought the property.
Architect/Designer: Oliver Cromwell Schofield
Construction Date: c1926
Original Owner: Oliver Cromwell Schofield
Visible Materials: Hand made and bolstered concrete blocks, steel
joinery, ceramic tiled roofing
Architectural Style: Californian Bungalow/Queen Anne
Area of the house: 1642 sq ft = 152.5m2
Plans/Drawings: Valuation New Zealand c1956
Use/Building Type: Residential
Legal Description: Lot 1 DPS 89454 (Formerly Lot 1 DPS 71932 (was
Pt Lot 17 BLK DP 79 of Allot 219 and 220 (HCC has 215/13) of the
Kirikiriroa Parish))
Valuation No: 4100/10200
Council Registration: Nil
NZHPT Registration: Nil
Surveyor/researcher: Ian Bowman/Jenny Gainsford
O C Schofield brought the property from, family members around
1919-21 and soon after began making concrete blocks made from
sand taken from the bank at the rear of the property. Some blocks
were hand shaped with a chisel.
The Hamilton Borough Council issued a building permit for a
dwelling on Lot 17, Allotment 219 in Grey Street in 1926. At the
time the dwelling was constructed it was described as a ‘Superior
Residence’; the newly built house comprised of: a lounge, a dining
room, a kitchen and a scullery, a bathroom and three bedrooms.
He built the house around the cottage and when the building
reached lintel height he then got a 1000 pound loan from the State
Advances in 1924 so he could complete the building. Ellis and
Burnand supplied the timber for the roof and Matai timber for the
floors. The Marseille tiles were supplied by Winstone Ltd. The
plastering was done by William Bourne, whose house still stands on
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Hamilton City Council
Hamilton Building Inventory 2010
the corner of Grey Street and Naylor Street, Hamilton East. Bourne’s
house displays features copied form the Schofield property.
On 21 November 1934 Oliver Cromwell Schofield was granted a
building permit (number 3187) from the Hamilton Borough Council
to construct a concrete garage at a cost of £28; the council fee was
£5. The garage has a curved opening, maintaining the Classical
influence on the design of the house.
looking for a suitable design for a house to be built at the Marae.
After visiting the house at 624 Grey Street, Koroki requested
permission to build a similar style property at the Marae. The Queen
Anne turret, dormer and open porch at the front of the royal
residence was inspired by 624 Grey Street. Once complete the
Schofield family were invited to the opening of King Koroki’s house
and were given a personal tour of the property.
In 1952 a fibrolite dwelling with concrete foundations was
constructed at the rear of the property near the edge of the gully. It
contained a bedroom, a lounge, a kitchen and a laundry. It was for
the daughter and son-in-law of Oliver and Ada Schofield.
Design
The rectangular planned, single storied house has a central front
entry under the wrap-around verandah leading to an ‘L’ shaped
corridor. The main living areas are to the south of the house
including the living area with the tower. The kitchen and extension
are to the east of the house and bedrooms are to the north.
In 1953/54 alterations and additions were instigated by the new
owners as well as drainage.
In 1993 drainage work was carried out on the property.
At the back boundary of the property is a gully, with a small creek,
that runs through it; the gully has Hamilton City Council protection.
In 1981 the property was valued at $17,200.00.
The construction of the house is hand made concrete block which
has been hand bolstered to imitate rock faced ashlar stone. The
windows are constructed of steel and the main front door is timber.
The roofing is Marseille tiles.
O.C. Schofield was a radio enthusiast and he built the first radio in
Hamilton, his call sign was ZL1JK. The house had 3 x 60 foot radio
aerials.
The house is designed in the Californian Bungalow style, although
with some Queen Anne details such as quoins around window and
door openings and on corners. The verandah has classical
mouldings, while a Queen Anne inspired tower is located on the
corner of the house.
The design of the royal residence Turongo House at Turangawaewae
Marae was inspired by the design of the house at 624 Grey Street.
In the mid-1930s the Schofield family were approached by Ellis and
Burnand of Hamilton on behalf of the late King Koroki who was
The classical details above the doors and windows are of the type of
decoration found in superior residences in Bolton, England. The
interior of the house has coved skirtings, Matai floors and ornate
cornices throughout. The family moved into the house in 1926.
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Hamilton City Council
Certificate of Title
Parts of the Certificate of Title are illegible.
In 1904 Grace Schofield purchased the property from Joseph
Proctor at 624 Grey Street. On 28 July 1919 she sold the property to
Oliver Cromwell Schofield.
On 25 May 1920 a Certificate of Title was issued to Oliver Cromwell
Schofield an engineer from Auckland. He had two mortgages: one
with the State Advances Superintendent and the other with Grace
Schofield – both were administered on 25 May 1920. Grace died 25
August 1921 and probate was granted on 11 November 1921. In
1942 Oliver Cromwell Schofield discharged his mortgage with the
State Advances Superintendent and refinanced through the
Northern Co-operation Termination Building Society. In 1954, after
the death of Oliver Cromwell Schofield the property was transferred
to his widow Ada Schofield. After the death of Ada in 1961 the
property was passed onto their children John Roland and Olive June
and subsequently purchased by Olive June and her husband
Reginald Charles Collins. There were no alterations to the property
during this period except the street name and numbers were
changed from 202 Heaphy Tce to 624 Grey Street. The property was
sold to Alexander Somerville Hutcheson and Dorothy May
Hutcheson in 1964.
Assessment of significance
Geographic significance
Hamilton Building Inventory 2010
Heritage features/characteristics
Social/historical
The house is associated with engineer, O C Scholfield, and with his
family who owned the site since 1904. He held a significant and
responsible position of chief engineer at Waikato Hospital for many
years and was an early and well known radio ham.
Traditional/cultural
The house also has connection with the royal residence at
Turangawaewae Marae as the Scholfield house was the basis for the
design royal residence. Following the residence’s completion the
Schofield’s were invited to its opening.
Technological
The house is constructed in hand made and shaped concrete blocks.
Concrete block houses of this age are rare and even more so as
hand made and the house being owner built.
Setting/aesthetic/landscape
The house and garage are both constructed of the hand-made
concrete blocks and are of a similar style and age, maintaining
consistency between the main house and outbuilding. The house is
largely hidden from the main road although, as it is located at the
top of a rise, can be seen from surrounding houses.
Regional/possibly national
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Hamilton City Council
Hamilton Building Inventory 2010
Architectural
Proposed significance ranking: A+
The house is an eclectic mix of styles, with the dominant style being
the Californian Bungalow. The style is usually associated with
lightness and delicacy, however, the combination of dark coloured
concrete block and Classical details contribute to an sense of
solidity.
Table of rankings and management categories
Place: 624 Grey Street
Heritage
features
Geographic
significance
External
Authenticity
Rarity
Ranking
Social/historical
National
-
High
A
Traditional
National
-
High
A
Technological
City
High
High
A
Setting
Local
Moderate
Low
B
Architecture
Regional
High
High
A+
Sources:
Hamilton City Council
Hamilton City Library
Valuation New Zealand now Quotable Value
Land and Information New Zealand
Personal account provided by Olive June Collins, daughter of O C
Schofield (file 124/9 and 111/18/4)
Maori Architecture: From fale to wharenui and beyond. Deidre
Brown.
Summary of heritage values
The house is a regionally rare eclectic design combining the
Californian Bungalow and Queen Anne styles with Classical detailing
and it is historically associated with the Scholfield family. The house
is regionally, and possibly nationally significant for its use of hand
made and shaped concrete blocks and that it was an owner-built
and designed house. The house has national significance as the
inspiration for the royal residence at Turangawaewae Marae.
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