Shadbolt House & Studio – Restoration Update March 2025

Last year, we hit some pretty significant restoration milestones for Shadbolt House, and this year is shaping up to bring even more progress. 

In 2024, thanks to financial support from the Waitākere Ranges Local Board and generous grants from Stout Foundation and The Trusts Community Foundation, we completed approximately a third of the work required to restore the property’s structural integrity. 

With the continued support of the Waitākere Ranges Local Board and generous grants from Lotteries Heritage and The Trusts Community Foundation, we are now preparing to launch the next significant stage of work needed to establish the house as a full writers’ residency.

Want to be part of the story? Fundraising for the final stage is ongoing—help us turn the page toward a full writers’ residency. Get in touch with Tracey Sharp at tracey@goingwest.co.nz to find out how you can contribute.

Stage One Shadbolt House – Structural Restoration
Total Cost $350,000

Once we have completed the hard mahi of Stage 1 (securing the foundations) we can begin restoring the interior of the main house. Shadbolt’s remarkable writing studio, a separate structure on the property, will also be carefully brought back to life. Further work includes repairing the roof and removing invasive plant species to support ecological restoration. We will update you as this work progresses. 

While we continue working towards the full residency programme, we’re thrilled to announce a series of workshops and seminars designed to bring writers, readers, and thinkers together. This programme will offer opportunities to engage with literature, craft, and big ideas, keeping the spirit of creativity alive as we prepare for the residency’s full launch.

In April, we will be kicking off our workshop series with a masterclass on Creative Non Fiction, run by poet, essayist, and lecturer Richard Pamatatau. With a limit of just ten participants, this is an intimate opportunity to learn from one of the best. For more information visit the workshop page or contact Tracey Sharp at tracey@goingwestfest.co.nz