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

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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