Abbeyfield Nelson has been providing quality accommodation for older Nelsonians since it opened in May 1994. As the first Abbeyfield house in New Zealand the house in St Francis Way, Stoke has provided a benchmark for development of subsequent Abbeyfield houses throughout New Zealand.
The New Zealand Society has used the experience gained by the Nelson Society in establishing this first house to develop standards of best practice in design, construction and management. This original Abbeyfield house continues to set the standard in Abbeyfield by maintaining the quality of accommodation; for including residents in decision making as part of the house committee and in encouraging residents and volunteers to embrace the vision of Abbeyfield founder Richard Carr-Gomm.
The Stoke house was funded through the donation of a parcel of land by the local City Council, a $200,000 grant from the Lottery Commission, a substantial mortgage facilitated through the council and the efforts of a local committee obtaining donations of cash, materials and services from the Nelson community.
| The first Abbeyfield in New Zealand included best practice in design to take advantage of Nelson's sunshine. Innovative design concepts (for 1994) included solar heating and passive solar heat collecting tiled areas in all suites. |
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The housekeeper's flat is situated on the first floor because of the tight area of the site. As time has gone by more of the new residents have kept their cars, requiring the Society to lease a small area of adjacent land from the neighboring church to provide additional parking. |
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The suites each include en suite facilities, and sufficient space for residents to retain their favorite chair and some familiar or loved furniture. The suites are light and airy, and are restored to an 'as new' condition prior to any new resident shifting in. |
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Abbeyfield in St Francis Way, as befits its status as the original Abbeyfield house in New Zealand, hosts a large number of visitors from New Zealand and overseas as well as local prospective residents and their families. These visitors come to discover the unique feel and flavour of Abbeyfield in this country and are invariably warmly welcomed by the residents and local committee. The photo is of residents, committee and a party from Abbeyfield Japan who visited in May 2006. |
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