Grubb Cottage

Take a self-guided walk around the grounds of Grubb Cottage – Lyttelton's most significant colonial domestic dwelling.

Built in 1851, Grubb Cottage is the oldest surviving domestic dwelling in Lyttelton and amongst the earliest colonial homes in Canterbury. The cottage vividly mirrors the different eras of settlement from the days before the first four ships arrived to the growth of Lyttelton as Canterbury's front door during the 1860s and '70s.

Originally built as a simple dwelling by John Grubb to house himself and his fellow workmen, Grubb Cottage was later expanded to accommodate the growing Grubb family who lived here into the 20th century. Architecturally this is a fascinating survivor from colonial New Zealand, accommodating the memories and ghosts of more than 160 years of history.