Auckland is the city where over 1.6 million kiwis work, play or live. But behind its bustling appearance, the Auckland we all know and love hides spooky history too.

Established in 1840 by Governor William Hobson and named after Lord Auckland, this area of Aotearoa includes 2,446 historic heritage places. And where’s there’s history, there’s bound to be an apparition or two about!

To celebrate the spooky season, here are home listings of another kind… Five haunted houses in close proximity to Kingsland. How many have you visited?

Carlile House, Richmond Road, Grey Lynn

At 84 Richmond road stands Carlile House, built in 1886 as an education institute for boys. This property boasts a sought-after location, a double-story floor plan and an everlasting concrete facade.

Over the decades, it’s exchanged hands several times, often keeping within the Anglican church and serving as an orphanage, school or emergency housing. 

Stories about hauntings in the building come from an urban myth about a fire in which 43 children sadly perished. While soundingly tragic, the incident has never been historically verified or recorded, making it unlikely to have taken place. Despite this, the building’s decaying appearance and its creepy overall aura have earned it a place on the list.

The building’s Category 1 Historic place label means there is no way it can be demolished. However, now owned by the United Church of Tonga, discussions are underway between the church and the Auckland council about possible next steps for the glooming property.

Highwic House, Newmarket

On the edges of Auckland’s New Market suburb sits the Highwic House, a quaint sunny home that was originally the home of settler and landowner, Alfred Buckland, in 1862. The home was purchased by Alfred’s first wife Eliza, a mother to nine children, who sadly passed away in 1866.

The Buckland family’s wealth continued to grow, as did the family, and descendants of Alfred & Eliza lived in the home right up until 1978. It was then purchased by Heritage New Zealand and opened as a historic house museum in 1981.

While the home has been well-maintained, visitors have recalled seeing the ghost of a woman in one of the bedrooms, as well as a ghostly canine running across the front lawn. Apparently, the Bucklands were known to be dog lovers – and the lawn does look particularly paw-fect for furry companions!

Alberton House, Mt Albert 

Frequently sited as Auckland’s original party house, the Alberton House was home to Allan Kerr Taylor, his wife Sophia, and their 10 children. The home is surrounded by a beautiful half-hectare garden that boasts oaks, redwoods and cedars. 

Despite several sightings of women in Victorian clothing, along with reports of unexplained voices and weird vibes, the home is known for its inviting and happy demeanour that has made it the perfect location for many weddings and celebrations over the years. 

Ewelme Cottage, Ayr Street, Parnell

Home to Reverend Vicesimus Lush and his family, the Ewelme cottage is often touted as one of Auckland’s creepiest historical homes. Visitors describe eerily feelings about the medieval-inspired architecture and cluttered hallways.

Despite this, paranormal investigators have been unable to find any evidence of spooky activities or happenings, instead attributing the home’s general creepiness to the generations of family activity and belonging giving it a cluttered, creepy appearance.

The home was lived in by Lush descendants up until 1967 when it was purchased by the Auckland City Council and leased to NZ Historic Places trust.

Kinder House, Ayr Street, Parnell

Neighbour to Ewelme cottage, and positioned next to a busy main road, the Kinder house in Parnell is frequently known as “The Headmaster’s House” and is a gothic-style mansion built out of grey volcanic stone quarried from Mt Wellington.

The home was built in 1857 for John Kinder, who was a teacher and reverend at the local church of England Grammar School.

Paranormal sightings in the home report the black, shadowy figure of a man moving throughout the halls and bedrooms. Who could this man be? 

Some visitors suggest it is John Kinder himself, while others speculate that a tragic event in John Kinder’s lifetime has prompted the apparition. John’s brother, Henry, was murdered by his wife and lover in 1865, which prompted John to adopt his brother’s children and have them move into the home. Henry didn’t die anywhere near Kinder House, but that hasn’t stopped the speculation. I guess that’s folklore for you!

This concludes our five part round-up of haunted homes in Central Auckland. Perhaps you learned a creepy thing or two?

While none of these homes appear to be up for sale (thank goodness for that). We have plenty of welcoming, less-haunted homes ready for you to discover this Summer. 

For more information on listings that might suit you and your family, contact us here.