Fairfield House in 48 Van Diemen Street, Nelson, New Zealand,[1] is registered with Heritage New Zealand as a Category I structure. Originally built in 1849, today's house was constructed as a residence for Arthur Atkinson in 1872. It was at some stage owned by the Nelson College for Girls, who used it as a boarding house. After the 1929 Murchison earthquake, boarders from Nelson College also moved in, as their hostel got damaged.[2] The house was given to Nelson City Council in 1979 and was threatened with demolition. A community group formed that had the objective of saving the house. Alan Stanton moved into the derelict building as a squatter and started restoring it. Today, it is a community centre.[3]
Atkinson, who was the brother of Premier Harry Atkinson, had an observation tower built onto the house in 1883, as his hobby was astronomy.[3] He was tasked by the Royal Society to observe the transit of Venus in 1882.[2] The tower had at one point been demolished,[3] but a replica has since been built.[2]
