The Historic Queen's Hall, 9 Paget Street, Freemans Bay.

For 30 years this remarkable property has been cherished as a private residence, but its story reaches back to the golden age of Edwardian Auckland, when 9 Paget Street stood as one of Freemans Bay's most beloved gathering places.

Built around 1905-1906 by Alex and Mrs. Thorne with a father's devotion - reportedly to provide a stage for their daughter's musical talents - Queen's Hall quickly became far more than a family's gift. On August 3, 1906, Auckland Mayor Arthur Myers officially opened the doors to what would become a vibrant hub of community life, where up to 170 people gathered for concerts, lectures, lodge meetings, and social occasions. The hall's prized Bluthner piano filled the soaring 25-foot-high interior with music, while the building itself became woven into the fabric of a neighbourhood transforming from early settlement into a bustling working suburb.

The Thornes made Paget Street their lifelong home, and their hall served the community faithfully before eventually following the path of many historic venues, transitioning into the private residence it remains today. This conversion has preserved not just the building's architectural bones but its soul - a tangible connection to early 20th-century Auckland, when personal ambition and community spirit could create something truly special.

Now, after 30 years of dedicated stewardship by the current owner, this piece of Freemans Bay history awaits its next chapter. Here is an opportunity to own not merely a home, but a landmark - a building that once rang with applause and laughter, that witnessed a neighbourhood's evolution, and that stands as a rare survivor of Auckland's social heritage. The soaring ceilings, the historic significance, and the stories embedded in every corner make 9 Paget Street far more than an address. It is a privilege, a responsibility, and an extraordinary chance to become the custodian of Freemans Bay's living history.

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