House Northbrook and Wood family, Wainuiomata (circa 1904-05). Burdan, Claude Oswald, 1896-1972 :Photographs chiefly of Wainuiomata. Ref: 1/2-060611-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22656151
‘Northbrook’ house in 1908 was inhabited by the Wood family. Pictured from left to right, are Florence Wood; Clara being held on Mary Wood’s hip; and twins Connie & Mabel positioned beside their father, James Wood. An inscription on the back of the file print indicates, ‘Built in 1867 by Mowlem.’
The most notable residence in Wainuiomata for many years was Northbrook, built around 1869 by Captain John Mowlem. Mowlem married Agnes Sinclair, daughter of early settler Hugh Sinclair, in 1868. After their wedding, the couple initially moved to England, but Agnes was unhappy there, prompting their return to Wainuiomata. Upon their return, Northbrook was built on land gifted by Hugh Sinclair.
Captain Mowlem also purchased additional land from his father-in-law, establishing a farm. On a later trip back from England, he brought with him high-quality materials, including wallpaper, windows, flooring, roof slates, and all the furniture, ensuring Northbrook was built to a high standard.
Following the deaths of Hugh Sinclair in 1871 and Agnes Sinclair in 1878, the Northbrook property was sold to Duncan and John Sinclair, both brothers-in-law, continuing the estate’s association with the extended Sinclair family.
Duncan briefly lived there with his family before the Sinclairs faced bankruptcy in the 1880s. The property was then purchased by John and Mary Wakeham of Wainuiomata, with John being the grandson of Richard Prouse. When the Wakehams retired to Petone around 1903, James Jackson Wood, a former farmer in upper Moores Valley near the Scout Camp, became the owner till 1938. The house was later converted into two rental units, but its lack of insulation and high ceilings earned it a reputation as a cold and difficult-to-heat home. The final owner was Ian Whitcher, JJ Wood’s grandson, a housing developer after whom the street is named.
By the 1920s, at around 60 years old, concerns arose about repairing the timber damaged by borer. However, Ian Whitcher and his brother, who were skilled carpenters and builders, deemed the house beyond repair. It was eventually dismantled in August 1982. A cohort of school teachers tasked with demolition, thought they could finish the job in a short amount of time. Yet, “Northbrook” had the final say. The reliance on mortise and tenon joints made the endeavor unexpectedly arduous and time-consuming for all involved. At least one eye witness remembers that the last part of the house was burned down.
