- Wellington developer Ian Cassels is selling Erskine Chapel after a $7m-plus restoration.
- The chapel, restored by The Wellington Company, is now a premium events venue.
- The sale aims to pass custodianship to a new owner who will honour its heritage.
One of Wellington’s treasured heritage buildings has been listed for sale after a lengthy court fight and $7 million-plus revival.
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Wellington developer Ian Cassels is selling Erskine Chapel to focus on new housing development projects in the region.
Cassels’ firm, The Wellington Company, acquired Erskine Chapel in 2000 as part of its purchase of Erskine College, a Catholic school in Island Bay that closed in 1985 and was in a run-down state.
The company’s plans to clear the site to make way for new homes met with strong opposition from heritage groups, leading to a lengthy and expensive court battle.
The arches, intricate detailing and stained glass windows make it New Zealand's finest French Gothic-style chapel. Photo / Supplied
In 2018, the Environment Court allowed The Wellington Company to demolish the school buildings and proceed with plans to build 97 townhouses on the site, but also ordered it to preserve and strengthen the chapel.
The company finished its restoration work in 2022 and has since hired out the heritage-protected chapel as a premium wedding, funeral and events venue.
The Wellington Company director of property Sam Hooper said the chapel had been in a poor state and the firm was proud of the role it had played in transforming it.
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The extensive and highly specialised restoration programme to preserve its Gothic Revival architecture, reinstate the intricate interior detailing, and upgrade the structure to modern safety and seismic standards took several years and cost more than $7m.
Heritage specialists, stonemasons, conservation architects and craftspeople were all enlisted to help save the building, which Hooper said was “one of the most unique and beautiful they had ever worked on”.
“With Erskine Chapel now fully revitalised and operating successfully, we feel the timing is right to pass custodianship to a new owner who can continue to celebrate and utilise this special asset, whether for hospitality, events, private use, cultural purposes, or as part of a broader organisational portfolio.”
The chapel was originally part of Erskine College, a Catholic girls' school that closed in 1985. Photo / Supplied
The college was demolished and the land was used to build townhouses. Photo / Supplied
Hooper said the chapel’s soaring nave, stained-glass windows and acoustic qualities made it a one-of-a-kind, adding that very few heritage buildings of this calibre existed in New Zealand.
He expected it to appeal to a wide range of buyers, including an events or hospitality operator, a cultural or creative institution, a philanthropic trust or foundation or a private buyer looking for an iconic property with national significance.
“We’re confident that the next owner will recognise the importance of this landmark and continue to honour its heritage while exploring the potential it offers.”
No price indication is being given at this stage.
CBRE agent Rick Stace, who is marketing the property with Dharmendra Mistry, said the chapel and adjoining function rooms had plenty of potential.
“Erskine Chapel is widely regarded as having the finest French Gothic-style interior in New Zealand and represents a true trophy holding. Erskine Chapel offers wow factor in every sense and is an extraordinary chance to own a stunning, truly unique asset.”
The Wellington Company has listed the chapel for sale just months after signing up to restore the heritage-protected Dixon Street flats.
Kāinga Ora sold the property in June to Taranaki Whānui Limited, which immediately resold it to The Wellington Company for $3.04m, making an on-paper profit of $2m.
The Wellington Company told OneRoof in September that it was an opportunity to preserve an important part of Wellington’s architectural history while delivering much-needed affordable housing.
