Katherine Mansfield Birthplace

Wellington, New Zealand

Katherine Mansfield Birthplace was the home of Katherine Mansfield, New Zealand's most famous author. The building, located in Thorndon, is classified as a "Category I" historic place by Heritage New Zealand. The Birthplace is open to the public, having been restored and furnished by the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Society Incorporated, which was founded by Oroya Day (art historian), Peter Young (solicitor), and architect James Beard. The land for the building was originally owned by Charles Clifford, while the building itself was built for Mansfield's father Harold Beauchamp. Katherine Mansfield recreated memories of her childhood home in her short stories The Aloe, Prelude, A Birthday, The Doll’s House, and The Wind Blows. Mansfield described the house as a 'dark little cubby hole' and a 'horrid little piggy house'.