Removal of Sir Edmund Hillary's house

The long awaited move of the house of Sir Edmund Hillary will take place tomorrow. Students from Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, the future site for the house, will acknowledge Sir Edmund’s legacy as the building is removed at 10.30am.

The house, built by Sir Edmund and Lady Louise Hillary in 1956, will be rebuilt with only minor modifications as the Sir Edmund Hillary Leadership Centre. Leadership programmes for the school students and the community will be delivered from the centre and in time it is envisaged it will also become a place where students from around New Zealand could visit to learn about his work and achievements.

Gail Thomson, Commissioner for the school, said today that, “Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate is privileged to have been donated this very significant symbol of New Zealand history. The achievements of Sir Edmund Hillary will continue to provide significant motivation and inspiration for the young people of our country”. Local community groups and national figures such as Graeme Dingle are being consulted about programmes that might be situated here.

Fundraising is underway to cover the costs of the removal, reconstruction and relocation onto the collegiate site and to support leadership initiatives. A major fundraising event will be held on June 12th, supported by Rotary Club of Auckland East Inc, where members of the public can purchase a commemorative brick from the house.

Buy A Hillary Brick Day will be a chance for people to own a small but unique part of the house from where so many expeditions were subsequently planned. At the same time they will be contributing to the ongoing legacy and inspiration left by Sir Edmund.

Some corporate sponsorship has also been promised and further support is being sought for the programmes and the centre.

Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate has three schools on its Otara campus, a primary, middle and senior school. Support for the move of Sir Edmund’s home to the collegiate has come from the Hillary family and the current owner Mr. Terry Jarvis, who has gifted the house to the collegiate.