The Friends of Williams House have developed a History Trail through the garden. The trail is identified by interpretive signs placed near salient features identified as having historic interest relating to Williams House. The features are numbered according to the map of the garden detailed in a brochure available from the Librarian, (which is also shown here). This brochure complements the brochure Williams House - A Legacy of Paihia's First Mission Station and is a guide to the features of the garden. Also you may see further information relating to each feature by following the links on this page.

The site of Williams House was the site of various family homes from 1860 to 1993. Originally the land was owned by missionary the Reverend Henry Williams. The original house on this property was built around 1860 for his youngest daughter Lydia and her husband Hugh Carleton.

The stone shed in the grounds dates from the time of the original house and was retained when the original house was demolished to make way for the existing Williams House. Because of the historical significance of the stone shed, it was registered in 1996 with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category II Historic Place, (as a place of "historical or cultural heritage significance or value"). Follow this link for the entry in the NZHPT register..

A number of trees from the original grounds are also preserved on the current site. Coupled with the additions made by later occupants that added to the historical value of the garden, this was also registered in 1996 with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category II Historic Place, (as a place of "historical or cultural heritage significance or value"). Follow this link for the entry in the NZHPT register.

Following the deaths of Hugh and Lydia Carleton in the early 1890s, the land title was sold back to the Mission Trust Board, who sub-divided the original property quite substantially.

In 1919, Canon Percy Temple Williams bought a number of titles and had the existing Williams House built. His property originally extended as far as the shoreline and included what is now the Village Green, the group of shops near the Post Office and the Fire Station, War Memorial Hall and carpark to the rear of the house.

The homestead currently houses the Paihia Library on the ground floor. Upstairs is an art gallery and exhibits about the history of Paihia.

Points of Interest on the History Trail:

Starting from the path that leads in from Williams Road, (the main shopping precinct), the features of the front garden are:

1.    Phoenix Palm - Phoenix canariensis [more information]

2.    Pohutukawa tree - Meterosideros excelsa [more information]