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Hohepa Canterbury was established on August 30th 1965, in a large gracious home on the slopes of the lower Port Hills, overlooking Christchurch City and its environs. Initially the organisation started as a Home School for nine young children with Margaret Farrow recruited from England as the first Principal.
In 1967 the Barrington Street site of 2¾ acres was bought along with its original 1910 two storey family home. Several residences and a day centre were built on the site over the following years, while in 1984 a 40 acre farm near Halswell was purchased, largely financed by Trust Money from the late Sir Lewis and Lady Harris.
Hohepa Canterbury, although part of the wider Hohepa Homes Trust Board, is semi‑autonomous and thus undertakes its own strategic planning. The focus is on being a quality provider with sustainable services, such as living options, community participation, artistic therapies and agriculture.
Currently the community has grown to support 71 adult residents and up to 40 day attendees, generally on the two main sites at Barrington Street and Halswell Farm, with some houses situated close by in the wider community.
Administration, the Day Base and Recreation Centre all operate all operate from the Barrington Street campus, nestled at the foot of the Port Hills amidst a setting of flowing lawns and gardens, complemented with a boundary stream and the occasional sculpture.
Nine kilometres away at Halswell, the campus supports three residential homes and three flats, a volunteer’s cottage, commercial kitchen and vegetable preparation complex, all placed within a picturesque mixed farming enterprise.
Other pages you may be interested in:
Residential Services | Day Services | Festivals | Volunteering | Donating
