Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe gifted the site where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed to the nation in 1932.

Public discussion about heritage protection occurred in 1940 in conjunction with the centenary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

[2] Duncan Rae, the MP representing the Parnell electorate, suggested that a heritage organisation should be set up and put in a private member's bill.

[7][8] It is governed by a board, appointed by the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage and currently chaired by Hon.

[9][10] Additionally, the Clendon family papers and document stored at the house were inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Aotearoa New Zealand Ngā Mahara o te Ao register.

[12] The Canterbury earthquakes of September 2010 and February 2011 resulted in damage to a number of historic buildings in Christchurch.