I have decided to be different and present this week's images in black and white. In my opinion it brings out the soul and beauty of a heritage building with an amazing rich history.
West of Auckland at 100 Mt Albert Road, Mt Albert, lies a beautiful, 1863 historical treasure. This farmhouse named Alberton because of its location below Mt Albert, originally stood at the head of 500 acres of land which in its heyday, provided the family with all the produce they needed with the surplus sold locally. Over the years the family sold off much of the original garden, the orchard, tennis court and croquet lawn for suburban development, leaving only one acre around the house. Alberton was owned by Allan Kerr Taylor and home to the family for over 100 years. The family became known as Kerr-Taylor in the 1890s. In 1972 the house was bequeathed to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust by Muriel Kerr-Taylor, the youngest of the Taylor children. In the 19th Century, Alberton was famous for its balls, hunts, garden parties and music. No wonder this property is made available for weddings, private and corporate functions. I can merely tempt you with a few photos to pay this historical house a visit and when you do, please feel free to to take along a picnic basket and continue the wonderful legacy of garden parties with your own family.
Quote of the week
If you're photographing in color you show the color of their clothes - if you use
black and white, you will show the color of their soul - Author Unknown
The entrance to Alberton House with its 18 rooms
To the right of the entrance the little windows of the kitchen can be seen, so
purposely designed to keep the visitors from seeing the servants in the kitchen
and to keep the heat in
The back view of the two storied wooden house rooms which has three attic bedrooms.
These bedrooms were occupied by female servants
The entrance to Alberton House with its wrap-round verandahs
Arches around the verandah offering interesting lines
Allan Kerr Taylor was born in 1832 in Seringapatam, India
which could possible be the reason for the turrets in
Anglo-Indian style
The view from the bottom verandah over the garden with its original redwood
trees planted by the Taylor family
Steps leading down from the verandah to the water fountain and garden
A close up of the swans just below the top tier of the
water fountain
Stained glass door and windows leading into the conservatory
The main bedroom where all the children of Mrs Kerr Taylor were born. The
house contains a wealth of original family furniture and possessions and
several rooms still have their 19th century wallpapers
This is the second bathroom which was added between 1910 and 1920. The first
bathroom opened off the breakfast room. In the early years the family used
a bathhouse built over a creek below the gardens and orchard
The view down the verandah on the second floor
"Dolls through the Ages", a current display of over 60 dolls in the ballroom,
ranging from the late 1800s to reproductions from the 1900s. The Taylor
family had quite a social life and the Taylor girls and their mother were
well known for their singing abilities. This is one of two of their pianos
that can be seen in the house
A member of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
dressed to suit the era. On 16, 17 and 20-24
September, there will be a display of historic
fashion with Victorian period clothes from
the Kerr Taylor collection
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Suzette Bothma
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