16/06/2026
Sexton’s Cottage is one of Wellington’s oldest surviving buildings and a fascinating reminder of the city’s early colonial history.
It was built in 1857 as a home for the sexton—the caretaker responsible for maintaining the nearby Anglican section of the cemetery and assisting with church duties. The cottage sits at 26 Bolton Street within the beautiful surroundings of the historic Bolton Street Memorial Park, just a short walk from the CBD.
Though you can’t simply walk inside Sexton’s Cottage whenever you visit.
Although the grounds of the nearby Bolton Street Memorial Park are open to the public, the cottage itself is usually closed to casual visitors because it is used as accommodation. Over the years, it has served as housing for artist-in-residence programmes and other short-term occupants. Heritage New Zealand currently lists it as “Private.”
