The house is situated within the Former Halswell Quarry which is scheduled as a Highly Significant Heritage Item #648 in the Christchurch District Plan.

Council holds few files about the house's history and use, other than that it was built in the 1940s, initially used to house the Halswell Quarry Engineer and later used for residential tenancy.

The Halswell Quarry Management Plan (2009) identified the buildings removal in the Indicative Development Plan with the intent to build new workshops and a storage yard either on the house site or near the former Manager’s house.

The house has been unoccupied since 2017 when the tenancy of 14 years was terminated as the property was no longer fit for occupation. The house has sat unused since. Council has received one complaint about the property. The house is in disrepair has attracted unauthorised activities such as break-ins, parties and graffiti.

The Engineer's House will require extensive works to restore, with costs estimated at $520,000-$650,000, and demolition $53,200. There is currently no budget allocated to a restoration.

For a more in-depth history, view the heritage assessment here.