In 1871, James Flesher's father William (born 1837) bought a 25 acres (100,000 m²) site of the Avebury farm from Dr John Seager Gundry for £500.
Flesher senior commissioned Avebury House from architect James Glanville.
The 4,289 m² dwelling was completed in 1885, replacing an earlier house from 1873.
William Flesher died suddenly on the steamship SS Tarawera on a passage from Melbourne to Lyttelton, and James Flesher inherited Avebury house.

After James Flesher's death, the house was in turn passed to his son Hubert de Rie Flesher, who sold the building and 8 acres (32,000 m²) of land to the Crown in 1945, and it was on-sold to Christchurch City Council.
The house became the Cora Wilding Youth Hostel in 1965 and the land became a public reserve (Avebury Park).
After a threat of demolition in 1997, the house was renovated.
It was opened in 2002 by Prime Minister Helen Clark and serves as the Avebury House Community Centre.

Avebury House and Avebury Park are located in Eveleyn Couzins Avenue in Richmond, Christchurch.
Flesher Avenue, off Eveleyn Couzins Avenue, is named after the Flesher family.
Both roads occupy land that was previously part of the Avebury House property.
In 1871, James Flesher's father William (born 1837) bought a 25 acres (100,000 m²) site of the Avebury farm from Dr John Seager Gundry for £500. Flesher senior commissioned Avebury House from architect James Glanville. The 4,289 m² dwelling was completed in 1885, replacing an earlier house from 1873. William Flesher died suddenly on the steamship SS Tarawera on a passage from Melbourne to Lyttelton, and James Flesher inherited Avebury house.
After James Flesher's death, the house was in turn passed to his son Hubert de Rie Flesher, who sold the building and 8 acres (32,000 m²) of land to the Crown in 1945, and it was on-sold to Christchurch City Council. The house became the Cora Wilding Youth Hostel in 1965 and the land became a public reserve (Avebury Park). After a threat of demolition in 1997, the house was renovated. It was opened in 2002 by Prime Minister Helen Clark and serves as the Avebury House Community Centre.
Avebury House and Avebury Park are located in Eveleyn Couzins Avenue in Richmond, Christchurch. Flesher Avenue, off Eveleyn Couzins Avenue, is named after the Flesher family. Both roads occupy land that was previously part of the Avebury House property.
James Arthur Flesher