Henderson's Mill Cottage

What is Henderson's Mill Cottage?

Henderson's Mill Cottage is the oldest building still standing in Henderson, West Auckland, New Zealand. It began life around 1849 as the cookhouse serving Thomas Henderson's water-powered timber mill, on a site above where it stands today. By 1875 the cookhouse had become a schoolroom, and later a four-room family cottage, gaining further additions through the 1930s. In 1993 the A K and N A Corban Family Trusts gifted the building to Waitakere City Council, and it was shifted downhill to its present site on Sel Peacock Drive. Since 1994 it has served as the headquarters of the West Auckland Historical Society, standing beside a working replica of Henderson's original waterwheel, and is open to visitors as a record of the industry that named the suburb.

The Oldest Building Still Standing in Henderson

Henderson's Mill Cottage began as the cookhouse for Thomas Henderson's water-powered timber mill, built around 1849 on a site above today's location, making it the oldest building still standing in Henderson.

By 1875 the cookhouse had become a schoolroom, and later still a four-room family cottage, gaining further additions through the 1930s. In 1993 the A K and N A Corban Family Trusts gifted the building to Waitakere City Council, and it was shifted downhill to its present site on Sel Peacock Drive.

Since 1994 Mill Cottage has served as the headquarters of the West Auckland Historical Society, standing alongside a working replica of Henderson's original waterwheel as a reminder of the industry that gave the suburb its name.

Tohu Heritage is documenting Henderson's Mill Cottage as part of an ongoing effort to preserve New Zealand's early heritage in permanent, interactive 3D.