• To collect, preserve and record for the benefit of the citizens of Howick and environs all matter of historical interest
• To acquire suitable housing for such historical material;
• To encourage public appreciation of places and things of general historical interest;
• To record the results of historical research and publish this material.

In addition to the collection of buildings making up the Howick historical Village, the HDHS owns two historic buildings and the land they rest on, plus one historic building on Council owned land overlooking the Historical Village.

Bell House

Built in 1851, this home was originally the dwelling of Fencible Officer Captain C.H. Montressor Smith, before being sold to settler farmers – first Robert King in 1856, then Alexander Bell in 1868. It was moved to its present site by Alexander Bell in 1885. The Bell family had bought surrounding farmland in 1868, and continued to own and farm that land until the 1970s. The Bell story is an interesting one and relevant to the social history of the area. The provenance document of Bell House and the farm is available in the Society Library.

In 1989, New Zealand Historic Places Trust listed Bell House as a Category 1 listed building.

For much of the last 30 years Bell House has been rented and used as a restaurant. In 2008 it was damaged by fire, and has since been restored. It is currently available for hire for conferences, exhibitions, meetings, weddings, and similar events. Enquiries to 09 576 9506.

Hawthorn Dene

This is a 2.7 hectare property with a delightful 1855 farmhouse on the original site, and is situated in Botany Road. It was left to the Howick and Districts Historical Society by the Rev Robert Hattaway in 1992.

Robert Hattaway was the fourth generation of the settler Hattaway family to farm Hawthorn Dene, and it was his wish that the property be used for “preservation, as near as possible in its existing condition, as a memorial to the pioneer settlers of Howick, Pakuranga, and East Tamaki.”

The homestead is currently leased as a cafe and is enhanced by its rural setting within suburbia. It has a Category 2 listing with New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

The Parsonage

Originally built in 1848 for Captain C.H. Montressor Smith, it was sold soon after to the Anglican Church and became the home of Howick’s first resident vicar, the Rev Vicessimus Lush from 1850-1863.

In 1975, when the Anglican Church decided to build a new vicarage, the old house was moved to a site next to Bell House, where members of the Society renovated it .

Overlooking the Howick Historical Village, it provides a gracious backdrop and is rented to custodians for the Village.