For more than 100 years Paton House and Orongo (Thornton House) have flanked both ends of Victoria St on their large corner sections, and just around the corner on Thornton Road Potts House has been overlooking Lake Te Koo Utu since 1909.
It’s a heritage hat trick
Now all three Cambridge heritage villas are on the market.
Boasting lead light windows, decorative pressed metal ceilings and large formal gardens, all three villas were built by notable Cambridge people of the time, and are A listed on Waipā’s Heritage register and District Plan.
Paton House
Paton House was named after its original owner James Paton Thomson, a member of the 3rd Regiment of the Waikato Militia and Cambridge Cavalry Volunteers, and the Town Borough Clerk from 1884-92. A large double bay corner villa, it still has its original ornate fireplaces with hand-painted tiles, along with Anaglypta wallpaper panels down the long hallway. Its most recent owner has kept it in largely original condition, just adding designer Kartel chandeliers to complement the high ceilings.
Orongo
Built in 1902, the large corner villa Orongo was named after the district in Thames Coromandel where its original owner William Earl came from. It was built for grandeur with three chimneys, Marseille french clay roof tiles, pressed metal panelling and ceilings, and tessellated floor tiles in the entrance way. William and his wife Eleanor Sarah Earl were famous for their New Year’s Eve parties where they would host the Cambridge Reed Band members in Orongo’s formal rooms. Mrs Earl was also a keen member of the Cambridge Croquet club – members would often adjourn back to the house ‚to partake of afternoon tea’.
Potts House
Potts House was named after builder Fred Potts who was a key contributor to the character of Cambridge town today. He built many of its important buildings including the Bowling Pavilion, the Court House (now the Cambridge Museum), the Cambridge Club and the Masonic and National hotels. Mr Potts later incorporated undertaking into his building business as well, advertising ‚funerals on up-to-date lines’. He built the showcase villa as his family home, with square bay windows, tall chimneys and graphic leadlight windows.
As well as the many families that have enjoyed their rambling gardens and graciously proportioned rooms, both Paton House and Orongo have been run as successful Bed and Breakfasts over the years. Parties were not just a thing in Edwardian times – real estate agent Margo Lombardi who lived in Paton House in recent years remembers her daughter’s 21st party: “We had fairy lights strung throughout the house and garden, and long tables out on the lawn” she recalls. “It was quite magical”.
