Mansion House

Originally built during the 1840s for the manager of the Kawau copper mines, Mansion House was enlarged between 1865 and 1868 as the island home of Sir George Grey, Governor of New Zealand. The house is set in a unique historic reserve on the foreshore of Mansion House Bay, which features a range of exotic trees, including many planted by Grey.

Mansion House on Kawau Island was originally the residence for the mine superintendent on the island. In 1862 the island and home were purchased by Sir George Grey, one of New Zealand’s most influential and controversial political figures.