Places
In this section you can take a closer look at some of the actual places related to the Parker/Hulme case.
For now:
- Google Maps Parker/Hulme case map
- Ilam Homestead
- Christchurch in the fifties
- Hoo St. Werburgh
- Christchurch Girls' High School

Google maps

Correspondent Mark Turner assembled an exhaustive custom Google Map showing relevant locations from the lives of key players in the Parker/Hulme case. Definitely worth a look, see 'Parker-Hulme Murder (Google map)'.
As you can see, a lot of the fifties buildings are gone, partly because of the major earthquake that hit Christchurch in 2011. But you can still see, for example, how close Pauline's house was to the Girls' High School, how far it was to '...bike out to Ilam..'.
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Ilam homestead

Ilam is a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand about five kilometres west of the city centre. Today it is the location of the University of Canterbury. The suburb was named after the ancestral home of the Hon. John Watts-Russell (1825–75), who hailed from Ilam Hall in Staffordshire, England. He settled in Canterbury in 1850, arriving on Sir George Seymour and named his property Ilam. The Ilam homestead was in the 1950s inhabited by the rector of Canterbury College, Henry Rainsford Hulme. In 1954 the homestead gained notoriety as Hulme's 16-year-old daughter Juliet was involved in the Parker/Hulme murder case. The homestead was used as a major location for Peter Jackson's film Heavenly Creatures. The homestead has been the University of Canterbury Staff Club since 1971. Currently the historic Ilam Homestead is for hire as a wedding/function location: 'Ilam Homestead is the perfect venue for your function'.
But first I would like to take you on a tour, to the gardens of Ilam, in 1954, enjoy!


The Ilam Homestead was structurally damaged and earthquake prone following the February 2011 seismic event. Major refurbishment and structural strengthening followed, which retained the historic features of the homestead. The restoration was completed in March 2013. The refurbishment of the Homestead, incorporating function rooms, bar areas, reception and accommodation, won a silver medal at the 2014 New Zealand Commercial Construction Awards in the Restoration category.
Ilam in 2013 after restoration (gallery) >>
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Christchurch in the fifties


The main 'place' must be Christchurch, new Zealand. Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River flows through the centre of the city, with an urban park along its banks. In 1954 the city had a population level of around 191,000. To get a feel for life in the fifties in Christchurch you can watch some video's, and take a look at a picture galley, enjoy!

Christchurch Garden City of New Zealand (1952), also partially featured in 'Heavenly Creature'.


Christchurch Parade 1951. A unique look into the 1951 floral parade in Chirstchurch, New Zealand. This was the 'Canterbury centennial floral procession' held on 20 February 1951 as part of the Canterbury centennial celebrations. The florade was typical in Christchurch throughout the 1950s and 1960s.


1950s, 1960s Life in New Zealand, from 16mm. Clip has no audio, but the images are worth a look.


Christchurch in the fifties (gallery) >>
Christchurch Then & Now
A major earthquake occurred in Christchurch on Tuesday 22 February 2011 which struck the entire of the Canterbury region in the South Island, centred 6.7 kilometres (4.2 mi) south-east of the central business district. It caused widespread damage across Christchurch, killing 185 people, in New Zealand's fifth-deadliest disaster.
Christchurch's central city and eastern suburbs were badly affected, with damage to buildings and infrastructure already weakened by the magnitude 7.1 Canterbury earthquake of 4 September 2010 and its aftershocks.
In this video you can see the changes...

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Hoo St. Werburgh

Hoo St. Werburgh, commonly known as Hoo, is a large village and civil parish in the Medway district of Kent, England. It is one of several villages on the Hoo Peninsula to bear the name Hoo, a Saxon word believed to mean "spur of land" or to refer to the "distinct heel-shape of the ridge of hills" through the settlement.
It was here that Hilary Nathan lived from at least 1985 until 1997/1998, at 1 Abbotts Court Cottages. And where she was also running a children's riding school, Abbots Court Riding School.
She was also a very well known visitor at the local library.
This video-playlist with 7 videos takes you back to 1994, when Hilary Nathan lived in Hoo St. Werburgh.


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Christchurch Girls' High School (CGHS)

The old CGHS is in the central city, two blocks north of the old University (now Arts Centre on Worcester Blvd) and the Museum, one block east of the point where the Avon River turns into Hagley Park. The main entrance of the old school buildings is on Armagh St facing Cranmer Square. The Central Police Station is just 3 blocks south and 1 block east of the school. The Law Courts, where the inquest and trial took place, are just a block east of CGHS on Armagh St. CGHS was established in 1878, administered by Canterbury University College. The equivalent Boys' High School was founded 2 years later. The two schools acted as the main 'feeders' of qualified students to the College, and they were highly valued because of this role. CGHS moved to the Cranmer Square site in 1882. The connection with the College remained very strong. One thing the school did have was a terrific academic emphasis, even if it wasn't appreciated by the girls at the time. The girls did everything--no lab techs etc in those days. In the early 60s many girls entered CGHS for upper VIA from private schools that didn't have the facilities. It was always claimed that CGHS had a better academic standard than any of the private schools; it certainly had a better record in science.
The school crest is shown in close-up in the opening titles and credits of 'Heavenly Creatures'. The motto is: Sapientia et Veritas (Wisdom and Truth). The girls in "Heavenly Creatures" wore white shirts, buttoned to the collar, navy ties (preferably knotted with a Windsor knot), pleated navy pinafores, navy blazers, navy hats with a navy band with red trim at its top and a red crest at the front, stockings, brown Oxford shoes or sandals and brown gloves. They carried brown leather satchels The girls also had a uniform for gym. They wore white shirts, navy bloomers, white socks and white plimsoles (tennis shoes). Teachers wore black academic gowns over dark, conservative 'day' clothes. The school year was coincident with the calendar year and was divided into three terms. English term names were not used. The terms and holidays coincided with those of Canterbury University College, where Dr Hulme was Rector. The First Term starts in the week in which February 1st falls and runs until the end of April. Easter holidays fall in the First Term. The "May Holidays" follow and run for two weeks in the late Autumn. Canterbury College traditionally had rather wild student activities in the first week of May, after the first term. This is actually an old tradition in English schools, too, after their first term. The Second Term follows, running from mid-May to mid-August. The "August Holidays" run for two weeks at the primary school level and for three weeks at the secondary school level. This corresponds to late Winter, early Spring. The Third Term then runs until the week before Christmas. This marks the end of the school year. For 5th and 6th formers the last weeks of the year, after the examinations in November, are a pleasant time (apart from waiting for results). The pressure is off and teachers are often willing to let pupils decide what to do in class. "Summer Holidays" then last for six weeks, and include both Christmas and New Year.
Pauline's house backed onto the Christchurch Girls' High School - their garden overlooked the grounds of CGHS over the rear fence.

The school had a yearly magazine. In the 1952 edition (the 75th anniversary edition) an essay, a poem and a drawing by Juliet Hulme of IIIA was published.
See the CGHS Magazine for the years 1951~1955 for yourself, PDF files to read online and/or download and read on your own device.
1951 CGHS magazine (No. 109)
1952 CGHS magazine (No. 110)
1953 CGHS magazine (No. 111)
1954 CGHS magazine (No. 112)
1955 CGHS magazine (No. 113)

CGHS (gallery) >>
In the 2011 earthquake the former CGHS building was badly damaged. It had to be taken down.

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