The former Costley Training Institute, also known as Carlile House, is located at 84-90 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn.  It has been the subject of a number of enquiries by customers at Auckland Council Archives.

This building has had many owners and served various purposes over time. It has also  been known by a number of different names. It was the Costley Training Institute 1886-1908 and became the Richmond Road children’s home from 1909 until 1930. The image shown here is a plan of the proposed chapel for the Richmond Road children's home, archives reference ACC 015/4054.

The building became known as Carlile House when it was the headquarters of the New Zealand Church Army between 1935 and 1975.

This guide outlines the resources we hold on this property and will hopefully be of use to researchers. 

Recently, Auckland Council Archives has been fortunate to receive donations of artefacts and archives from members of the public.  It may surprise some people to learn that archives and artefacts from our predecessor councils are sometimes donated back to Auckland Council Archives and that not all items remained in the hands of the former councils to become archives. 

Often this occurs when a former council staff member may have taken documents home with them and then forgotten to bring them back.  Then years later family members might discover old ledgers and files when clearing out that person’s estate.  Other times, former staff or elected members may received gifts relating to their time in office and when they decide move home or they pass away, their families decide to offer those items to the Archives.

The first donation came to us from Mary Campbell who donated a number of items which had been presented to Mayor George Baildon and Mayoress Margaret Campbell while in office and upon retirement from Auckland City Council.

George Baildon was Mayor of Grey Lynn Borough Council 1912-1914.  In 1914 the borough amalgamated with Auckland City Council and Mr Baildon was elected as an Auckland City councillor.  He was appointed Deputy Mayor in 1922 and elected Mayor of Auckland City in 1925.  His daughter, Margaret Campbell served as Mayoress as Mrs Baildon had passed away just before George Baildon was elected.  Mayor Baildon retired from office in 1931.

The items include a silver tea service given to Mayor Baildon by the staff of Auckland City Council as a mark of their esteem after 14 years association with him as Councillor and Mayor.  As well, the staff gave Mrs Margaret Campbell a silver tea tray in appreciation of the courtesy she has always shown to them during her term as Mayoress of Auckland.

The Councillors presented Mayor Baildon with a handsome book with an inlaid wooden cover containing an illuminated address and autographed photographs of all of the councillors; as well they gave him an illuminated address framed in a decorative wooden stand (pictured here).

In the mid to late 19th, and early 20th century, illuminated addresses were a popular way to thank prominent individuals for their contribution to organisations.  They tend to be quite ornate with illustrations and calligraphy, often including elements of the person’s history in the images.

The other donation came from Philip Heath. 

After Onehunga Borough Council was amalgamated into Auckland City Council in 1989, their building was retained as a service centre with parts of it being tenanted to businesses and organisations.  Mr Heath had a design business which operated out of the former Onehunga Borough Council building.

Eventually it was decided not to retain the building and in about the year 2000, Auckland City Council vacated the building.   As the building was being cleared out, what was not required was put in rubbish skips.  Mr Heath happened to notice that there were some items of interest in the skip and rescued them with the intention of handing them over at a future date. 

He has now donated these “rescued” items to Auckland Council Archives.  They include a steel die used from making stamps and seals for Onehunga Borough Council (pictured), the original architectural concept drawings of the mid 1980s Onehunga Mall upgrade, as well as various engineering drawings and base maps of Onehunga.

Auckland Council Archives is grateful to the donors for enabling us to share these artefacts with the public and preserve them for future generations.