Anything is Possible – The Resurrection of Fairfield House

In 1979 Alan Stanton was ‘just a kid with a crazy dream’. Today he’s about to launch his book on the restoration project he initiated - turning Nelson’s Fairfield House from a demolition-ready wreck, to a publicly owned heritage venue. 

Fairfield House, a two storied villa overlooking Nelson city, had once been the home of the influential Richmond-Atkinson mob, including MP Arthur Atkinson and his feminist wife Maria. By 1979 it had been abandoned and was rapidly being vandalised.

Determined to save the house from being pulled down, armed with just a primus stove and sleeping bag, Alan moved in and squatted. He became the honorary caretaker and managed to inspire others with the seemingly impossible idea of restoring the house to its former glory.

Seven years ago Alan suffered a major stroke. This prompted a second major project:  the writing of Fairfield’s restoration journey. The completion of this book has been at the top of Alan’s ‘bucket list’ since he was diagnosed with motor neuron disease in June this year.

Just as the renovation became a collaborative community effort, getting the book Anything is Possible to press in time for Alan to see it in print, has turned into a group affair, with support from local designer Galen King and publisher Robbie Burton of Craig Potton Publishing.

Project manager Rachael Ennor says Anything is Possible is an inspirational story:

“Alan describes the many challenges they faced – lack of money, blocked drains, bees in the roof, dry rot in the walls, no glass in the windows and bureaucracy all around,” she says. “He describes how a small, tenacious group of committed people with a common vision can make a lasting difference.

“While the book touches on the story of Fairfield House, from its early days as a workman’s cottage to the grandeur of the Atkinson years, through to its time as a college boarding house and its abandonment – the book focuses on the 1980’s resurrection, the building of community, and the appreciation of heritage. Alan’s message is that with inspiration, determination, love and hard work, anything really is possible.” 

Anything is Possible chronicles the adventures of Fairfield’s resurrection: major house parts are mysteriously returned, the Friends of Old Fairfield offer their support and with kiwi ingenuity, born of financial necessity, the project is completed. Along the way there are reflections and anecdotes about life, sport, employment and politics, which Rachael says are all written in Alan’s easy, humorous and accessible style. 

Alan Stanton was born in Dunedin in 1945, brought up in Auckland and has spent most of his adult life in Nelson. After training in accounting and a period teaching, Alan successfully ran a small business making Tree Toys from native woods. He and his wife Christine live at Silkwood, near Mapua. 

Anything is Possible will be launched at Fairfield at 5pm on Thursday November 21, all welcome. The event will include theatre from Body in Space, inspired by Alan’s Fairfield stories.

Details:

Publisher:        Friends of Old Fairfield

Project Manager:         Rachael Ennor, 021 957515 rachennor@yahoo.co.nz

Media: Jacquetta Bell

Print:   Offset print with photographs throughout, Astra Print Wellington

Size:    Approximately 150 pages

Price:   $39.00, all proceeds of sales to Fairfield House

ISBN:  978-0-473-26748-3