After its beginnings as a Victorian home with an English-style garden, Risingholme historic homestead has re-emerged as a much-loved park and community centre.
Access
Cholmondeley Avenue, Opawa.
There is plenty of street parking in front of the gates.
Dogs
Dogs are permitted in the Risingholme grounds but must be on a leash at all times.
Facilities
Public toilets, plenty of seating and a drinking fountain.
The children's play area includes a roundabout, seesaw, slide and swings.
A hall and several smaller rooms are available for hire in the community centre.
The garden of Risingholme features a collection of mature trees, including English Oak, Cypress, Beech, Atlantic Cedar, Lebanon Cedar, Deodora Cedar, Wellingtonia, Spanish Chestnut, Scarlet Oak, Ash and Canadian hemlock.
A significant section of the original garden survives today and 26 trees are listed with the Christchurch City Council as heritage/notable.
There are also plantings of native trees, collections of shrubs and herbaceous borders. A formal rose garden stands in front of the old homestead.
Risingholme Homestead was built in 1864 for William and Mary Reeves by architect Maxwell Bury. The colonial house with gothic revival features was modified in 1919 to incorporate arts and crafts features.
Passing ownership several times, the property was gifted to the city as a park in 1943. That same year the building took on a second lease of life as a community centre.
The house is registered with Heritage New Zealand as a Category 2 Historic Place(external link).
Visit Risingholme Community Centre website(external link) to learn more of the homestead's history of the homestead, or to explore learning opportunities.
Risingholme Park and Homestead offer a number of bookable spaces for your wedding or special event.
In the park, there are four bookable spaces:
- The Rose Garden - holds 100 people.
- Taxus Lawn - holds 50 people.
- Playground Lawn - holds 100 people.
- Western Lawn - holds 150 people.
Find out more about booking park spaces or getting permission for photography and filming.
Contact us to find out availability and make a booking.
Check terms and conditions [PDF, 553 KB] for hiring a spot in Risingholme Park.
Contact Risingholme Community Centre(external link) to find out about hiring the hall or one of their rooms.
