Our proud connection to Anderson House
By: | Posted: 15 Sep 2025
Wishing a very happy 100th birthday to Invercargill’s beloved stately home Anderson House.
Anderson House was built by Sir Robert and his wife Lady Elizabeth Anderson in 1925. It is now listed as an Historic Place category 1 building.
Presbyterian Support Southland (PSS) has a proud association with the Anderson family dating back more than 100 years ago.
Sir Robert was one of the original trust board members for Presbyterian Social Service Association, Southland (now known as PSS) when it was established in 1919. He served on the board from 1919-1922.
Sir Robert’s son Hugh gifted shares worth £6000 towards the building of a social hall and occupational therapy centre at Peacehaven Village. Built in 1962, the social hub was named Anderson Hall in recognition of Hugh’s generous support, and it still retains the name today.
Currently residing in Peacehaven are two residents who can also claim a connection to the Anderson family and Anderson Park - care home resident Stanley Fox and retirement village resident Margaret Rule (nee Jenkins).
On leaving school, Stanley got a job as an apprentice gardener for the Invercargill City Council. As part of his job, he was responsible for pruning the climbing roses on the main path leading from the car park to Anderson House. He worked as a gardener there from 1940 to 1945.
“I loved it there. It was a great noble home.”
Margaret’s parents Mavis and Jack Jenkins lived in a cottage on the grounds of Anderson House and worked for the Anderson family. Her father was a farmer on the Anderson’s farm and her mother nursed Sir Robert.
Margaret lived in the cottage with her parents from her birth in 1938 until her father was called up to serve in the Second World War and Margaret and her mother moved to town.
Although Margaret was a very young child when she lived there, she still has fond memories of the home, its rooms and its inhabitants. Decades later, she still possesses some of the presents given to her by the Anderson family, including a wooden trinket box and a children’s picture book. She also has a photo of herself around four years of age on her two-wheeler bicycle in front of the home.
The Anderson family gifted Anderson House to the city in 1951. It was used as a public art gallery before it was closed in 2014 after being deemed an earthquake risk.
After it was closed for eight years while work was done to earthquake strengthen it and a decision was made about its future, the historic home was reopened to the public as a function facility.
SupportLink Invercargill coffee club members and members of the community were fortunate to have a private tour of the home recently.
It is great to see the public’s connection to Anderson House is continuing, creating fond memories for many more generations to come.
