One of Alexandra’s most impressive homes - Henderson House has been given a new lease of life and is ready for its next artist in residence.

Designed by Austrian architect Ernst Plischke in the 1950s - it was the home of Alexandra arts philanthropists the late Barbara and Russell Henderson, and since 2007 has been host to many big names in New Zealand’s art world.

Writer Sir Vincent O’Sullivan was the inaugural resident, followed by playwright Sir Roger Hall, composer Dame Gillian Karawe Whitehead, writer Owen Marshall, poet and anthologist Jenny Bornholdt, photographer Peter Peryer, jeweller Warwick Freeman, writer Kevin Ireland and painter Dick Frizzell.

From October 2024 for three months, award-winning Dunedin novelist Laurence Fearnley stayed in the house, and trustees Perpetual Guardian now want to open it up to artists of all calibres.

The house was built with local schist stone sourced from the section it sat on, overlooking the Clutha Mata-au River in Bridge Hill.

Client manager Andrew Childs said they were starting a new chapter with the house, and inviting artists of all backgrounds to apply for a residency - not just those already well established.

He said it would be good to have some more variety within the arts, such as a potter or someone who worked with fabrics, because that was what the Hendersons wanted their house to be used for.

“And it would be good for the artist to be able to give something back to the community, whether it be a presentation, an exhibition or a visit to local schools.”

Andrew said while the house had been relatively quiet in recent years, and particularly through Covid-19 times, they wanted the community to know the house had not been forgotten about.

On May 9, special guests including Central Otago Mayor Tamah Alley and arts enthusiasts were invited to view the restoration work of the house and grounds, and Andrew said the day was a huge success, promoting the new chapter at Henderson House.

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