Old Invercargill
Known as Lennel, in reference to the ancient name of Coldstream on the Scottish border, this large Victorian home was built by John Turnbull Thomson between 1880-1882, when the suburb of Gladstone was covered by the vast Waihopai bush, far from the hustle and bustle of the Invercargill township.
J.T.Thomson was a surveyor and an important figure in the early days of both Otago and Southland settlements. Thomson’s survey methods were widely appreciated as forward thinking and adopted by all of New Zealand. Thomson was made Surveyor-General following his successful planning methods.
Thomson purchased land by the Waihopai river after having surveyed off Invercargill in 1856 and in 1880 he was ready to retire and part with the big smoke of Wellington to build a family home on his Invercargill land. Cleverly planted out shortly after purchasing said land, the home was built surrounded by brilliant trees, many of which had reached a satisfactory size by the time Lennel was constructed.
The house was designed to resemble Thomsons childhood home on a Northumbrian farm of Glororum. Built two stories high and with 10 bedrooms, some dressing rooms and bathrooms, a drawing room, dining room, study, nursery, kitchen, scullery, wash house, two stair cases and at least 6 store rooms. It was a masterpiece on a massive scale even for today’s standards. In 1884 Thomson died, two year after the home’s completion.
Today the house lives on as a private residence, nestled in north Invercargill. Parts of its once enormous property Include Thomson’s bush and a large portion of the suburb of Gladstone.