These quotes were collected during the Trust’s drive to purchase Lilburn’s property

If we New Zealanders are serious about celebrating our culture then we have to get serious about recognising the major contributors to that culture. Lilburn’s house is a physical reminder of one of our finest composers and should be saved from anonymity.

— Anthony Ritchie, President, Composers Association of New Zealand, 2003–2006

Douglas was determined to get home from hospital to his modest house, which is surrounded by native greenery – a surprising haven in downtown Wellington. He died there a few hours after enjoying what he thought was the best glass of wine he had had in his life.

— Peter Walls, CEO, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

How wonderful it would be if the Composer-in-Residence really did have a Residence!

— James Gardner, inaugural NZSM-CNZ Composer in Residence

Lilburn loved the house for its central location yet its relative privacy – he could play his piano there without the complaints from neighbours he had had when in his Tinakori Road flat.

— Chris Cochrane B. Arch, ANZIA, Conservation Architect

What better memorial to Douglas could there be than that perfect residence being maintained in his honour, for the use of those composers who, in RAK Mason's words and Douglas’ music, “stoutly bring...up the rear”?

— Gillian Whitehead, Composer and Artist Laureate

...the Executors of Douglas Lilburn's will and the trustees of the Lilburn Trust should be given the strongest possible argument that the proposed use of the residence, namely, providing a secure and congenial place of work and accommodation for a continuum of composers in residence would do something of real and perpetual value for the fostering and support of NZ music.

— Charles Littlejohn, former Clerk of the House and Trustee of the National Library