Carlile House, in Grey Lynn, is the fourth heritage site published on Tohu Heritage: a Category 1 historic place now captured in photorealistic 3D, free for anyone to explore.
It was built in 1886 as the Costley Training Institute, funded by a bequest from Auckland businessman Edward Costley and designed by architect Robert Jones Roberts in the Classical-Italianate style. It was one of a small number of purpose-built homes and training schools for young people in nineteenth-century New Zealand. Over the years it became the Richmond Road Children's Home, then the headquarters and training school of the Church Army, from which the name Carlile comes, and later a church. It is listed as a New Zealand Heritage Category 1 place, List No. 9584.
The building is owned today by the Tongan church that occupies it, and stands quiet in Grey Lynn with an uncertain future ahead. You can explore Carlile House now.
A note from the founder
When I went to Carlile House to ask permission to document it, Diane welcomed me into the Tongan church that owns Carlile House, with real warmth. I explained why capturing the site in 3D matters, why a building like this deserves a permanent record that anyone can visit, and she understood straight away. No hesitation. She simply said yes.
I could not be more grateful. Moments like that are the whole reason Tohu exists: heritage is held by people, and it only gets preserved when they open the door. Thank you, Diane.
