Part of a series of multis designed to help you explore some Christchurch suburbs, started by StreetWalkerNZ.

Ilam

(Source: Google Maps)

Neighbouring suburbs: Burnside, Fendalton, Riccarton, Upper Riccarton, Sockburn, and Avonhead.

Name origin: Ilam is named for Ilam Hall in Staffordshire, England, the birthplace of John Watts-Russell, who built the lower storey of a two storey house than would eventually become Ilam Homestead (WP3). Ilam is Saxon for 'at the hills' so in this case a misnomer.

Ilam Homestead was burnt down in 1910 and rebuilt by Edgar Stead. He established the azalea and rhododendron gardens which are well worth visiting in spring. Ilam was sold to Canterbury College in 1950 and became the home of the Rector (now called Vice-Chancellor) of Canterbury College. Nowadays it is used by the University Staff Club. 

The Homestead and gardens were used in the filming of Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures, based on the infamous Parker-Hulme murder case, as one of the perpetrators was the daughter of the Rector at the time (1954).

While most of the housing in the area were built in the 1960s or later, there are some older houses. Notably, 83 Clyde Rd (WP1) is a kauri villa which was the family home of Kate Sheppard between 1888 and 1902. It was bought by the NZ government to be converted into a research centre and heritage venure to showcase Sheppard and other NZ women responsible for significant social change. It is now open to the public, click on the link for more information.

Another historically significant building is Okeover House (WP2). The land on which it is built was originally part of the Ilam estate of John Watts-Russell, but was sold to his business partner Alfred Creyke in 1858. Creyke called his property Okeover, but he returned to England permanently in the mid 1870s. The property was eventually bought by Francis Neave, chairman of the Farmer's Co-op in 1900, and it remained in the family until the University of Canterbury bought it in 1950. Initially housing teaching staff, Okeover became home of the School of Fine Arts, the first department to shift to the Ilam site in 1956. Later it became the Centre for Continuing Education (now known as U3A).

You will need to visit three waypoints to gather the information required for the final which is at S 43° 31.ABC E 172° 34.DEF

A = Edgar Stead bought 21.A hectares of the original 500 acre block (WP3 Ilam Homestead and Gardens)

B = Stead was given a large collection of rhododendrons by Lionel de Rothschild in 19xy, B= x+y (WP3 Ilam Homestead and Gardens)

C = The fourth number on the second line on the brass plaque (WP1 Kate Sheppard House)

D = The number of letters in the artist's last name (WP2 Okeover House Sculpture)

E = The penultimate (i.e. second to last) number on the brass plaque (WP1 Kate Sheppard House)

F = The date of the sculpture (on the trail map sign) 196F (WP2 Okeover House Sculpture)

Check sum A:F is 31

Note that parking around the University of Canterbury is limited especially during term time.