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Mainland Capital acquires Antonio Hall site to address student housing shortage
Mainland Capital acquires Antonio Hall site to address student housing shortage
9 June 2026
Mainland Capital today confirmed that site preparation works at the derelict Antonio Hall building at 265 Riccarton Road began on 2 June, marking the first physical step in the redevelopment of the site as a student accommodation village. Mainland Capital secured the 1.5-hectare property late last year in an off-market transaction brokered by CBRE, ending nearly fifteen years of vacancy following the Canterbury earthquakes.
Located 700 metres south of the University of Canterbury, the development will deliver more than 450 beds, addressing a shortage of quality purpose-built options for students beyond their first year. The scheme will take its design cues from the traditional mews typology found internationally, built around central courtyards and generous shared amenities that offer a living experience otherwise unavailable in the private sector.
The development reflects Mainland Capital's view that a structural imbalance between student demand and supply, coupled with a significant lag in the global trend toward purpose built, private sector student accommodation, presents a compelling opportunity to bring a best-in-class product to the Christchurch market.
Mainland Capital Executive Director Ben Bridge says “Student accommodation is one of the fastest-growing investment sectors globally. Christchurch has seen very little institutional development in this space despite strong student growth, so opportunities of this scale and proximity to campus are exceptionally rare.”
The University of Canterbury (UC) recorded 27,000 enrolments in 2025, the highest figure in the university’s 150-year history and a 44 percent increase over five years. Canterbury's share of national university enrolments has grown from 8.8 percent in 2016 to 12.3 percent in 2025, underpinned by an economy that has diversified considerably since the earthquakes, with strong contributions from technology, agribusiness, and visitor industries.
Chris Scott, who heads Finance and Acquisitions at Mainland Capital, says “the structural supply demand imbalance in this market has increased over recent years, and this site provides a platform to address it in a meaningful way. Enrolment growth has outstripped the university's ability to meet accommodation demand within its own halls or residence, pushing an increasing number of students into a private rental market that is ill-suited to their needs. The existing stock is dominated by ageing, converted bungalows, many of which are poorly located relative to campus, cramped, and lacking in any meaningful amenity. More recently, the emergence of two and three bedroom townhouses have offered students a more modern physical product, yet these too fall short of providing the experience that students are seeking as they move beyond the halls."
For Mainland Capital, the appeal of 265 Riccarton Road arises from several attributes: scale, walking distance to UC, appropriate zoning, and surrounding amenities. The site has wide frontage to Riccarton Road - one of Christchurch’s main arterial routes - and is within walking distance to UC, Westfield Riccarton and Bush Inn Shopping Centre.
“This was the only site in Christchurch that met the criteria of what we were looking for; proximity to campus, appropriate zoning, and the scale to deliver a standard of accommodation that students here have not previously had access to,” Scott says.
The site has been empty since the 2011 earthquakes. Subsequent fires in 2019 and 2021 left the original building beyond practical repair. Its heritage listing was formally removed in late 2025 - a step the Christchurch City Council took after the structure was deemed unsalvageable.
In 2025, Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger publicly welcomed plans for the redevelopment, describing the project as creating “much-needed accommodation close to the University of Canterbury”. Riccarton Ward Councillor Tyla Harrison-Hunt has previously identified resolution of the site as a community priority.
“There is real sadness about what happened to the original building, and we share that. Our intention is to honour what this site has always stood for; community, learning and a home for students in our city.” says Scott.
The Antonio Hall site is the second long-dormant Christchurch landmark Mainland Capital is bringing back into active use. The real estate funds management firm is currently leading the redevelopment of the former Noah's Hotel on Oxford Terrace as the new Sheraton Christchurch, a $150 million-plus joint venture with Russell Property Group, operated by Marriott International under the Sheraton brand, scheduled to open in mid-2027.
Antonio Hall, pre-demolition
(June 7, 2026)
Antonio Hall, pre-demolition
(June 7, 2026)