Newman Hall, a 1779 sqm property in Waterloo Quadrant, owned by the diocese of Auckland is on the market.
The building and adjacent land is one of the largest freehold development sites left in the Auckland CBD.
It was given to the Church, in 1947, by the Buxton family for religious charitable and educational purposes.
Newman Hall was officially opened as a social, cultural and educational instruction centre for Catholic tertiary students in 1962.
In recent years it has been the home for the Auckland Catholic Tertiary Centre (ACTC). It also housed of the Catholic Institute of Theology which closed in 2012.
The 1860s’ building has a Category A historic place listing. It retains many of its original heritage features, including sash windows on the ground floor, timber skirting boards, timber wall panelling, decorative cornices and pressed metal rose ceilings.
The Auckland Diocese had proposed a conservation plan for Newman Hall and had developed concept plans for a 10,000 square metre high-rise office building and car-parking on the land behind the hall.
Last year the plans were put on hold because of heritage issues surrounding the site of a fresh water spring located on the land.
Called Wai Ariki, or Chiefly Waters, the spring had been listed as a Site of Significance to Mana Whenua under the unitary plan.
At the time the diocese said, if it was not possible to go ahead with the proposed development of the land behind the Hall, it would not be able to complete the restoration of Newman Hall.
Once the sale of Newman Hall has taken place, the diocese is offering to take a one-year leaseback over the property, to allow a new owner some time to get a development scheme in place for the freehold site.
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