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When Waikato Hospital opened in 1887, part of Scotsman Dr George Kenny's remuneration as the first medical superintendent was a new house in the hospital rounds. Although not completed until 1893, this was an elegant 232-square metre kauri weatherboard villa designed by prominent architect T H White and built by Thomas Evans. The house cost 450 pounds to construct and had three bedrooms, a dining room, kitchen, scullery and adjoining maid's room, and a bathroom with the unusual luxury of an indoor toilet. A verandah and outbuildings were added soon after.
When Dr Kenny left Waikato Hospital in 1899 to take up a position at Rotorua Sanatorium and Baths, the house was occupied by successive superintendents Dr Hugh Douglas, 1899-1919; Dr George Gower, 1919-1928; and finally Dr Munro Hockin, who died unexpectedly while at work in 1939 and after whom Hockin House is named.
Lively accounts of life at Hockin House have been left by the Douglas family; Hugh, his wife Tottie and their four children. Their housekeeper Janet, who worked for the family from the age of 18 until she was 80, did the cooking and cleaning but the children were expected to make their own beds and help with chores. Hugh planted extensive fruit trees and vegetable gardens and shot the odd rabbit for the pot, bread came daily from the town bakery, and milk and butter from a local farmer who also supplied the hospital. The house was lit by gas and heated by coal or wood fires, although an electric range and water heater were installed in 1927, after the Douglas family had left.
The washing copper was fired up on Mondays, Tuesday was 'at home' day when visitors called, and on Sundays the Douglases attended the Presbyterian Church in Grey Street, followed by Sunday School for the children and perhaps a family ramble. The children attended Hamilton West School, travelling either on horseback or in the hospital 'spring cart' which went into town every morning with the mail.
After 1939 Hockin House became nurses' accommodation, then the Waikato Hospital Board's offi ces until 1971, when the board deemed the house surplus and eventually gifted it, with the proviso that it be moved off hospital grounds, to the Waikato Historical Society (WHS). After several years of negotiation with Hamilton City Council, Hockin House was finally relocated to its current site in nearby Graham Park in November 1974.
Careful renovation and restoration took a further five years, but today Hockin House is a folk museum and headquarters of the WHS. Kenneth Stringer, current president of the society, says, "[We] wanted to preserve something that might have gone out of the area&We also want to promote an interest in Hamilton's history, and use the museum as an educational resource." Hockin House is open to the public by prior arrangement with the WHS.
Writer: Deborah Challinor
Photographer: Ann Huston  |
