Hobsonville Point will in time be home to a small community facility available for hire, following the gifting of Chichester Cottage by Hobsonville Land Company (HLC) to the local residents’ society.

Located alongside Mill House, the cottage is thought to have been built about 1927. Doug and Audrey Mill lived in it while their neighbouring home was planned and built, later converting it to a studio in which to develop their aerial photographs. The cottage takes its name from Sir Francis Chichester, who stayed in it during the 1930s prior to his later fame through sailing and flying.

HLC will restore the cottage early next year and it should be available for use by the community from mid-2017. It will be operated by the Hobsonville Point Residents Society on a user-pays, hire basis. Featuring one large room, a kitchen and a bathroom, it will be suited to small group activities of up to 20 people such as hobby groups, a practice space, exhibitions or garden parties.