Manor opens doors for Waikato tour
Nothing could compare to the multimillion-dollar manor that is Willowbrook Park.
Sitting on 30 acres, the 2000-square-metre home has been designed in the manner of the grand Georgian era.
It took owners Peter and David Lord Cowell three years to build, but it is now their home for life.
David is the director of an emergency department in Australia and Peter is the managing director of Willowbrook Park and a licensed wedding celebrant.
‘‘For a long time Peter and I have wanted to build a house and we wanted to build a traditional English country house,’’ David said.
‘‘We were looking at places to buy a plot of land and starting to draft plans in our heads.’’
In 2009, the couple bought the site of Willowbrook Park, which had been an apple orchard.
Peter and David then set to work drafting plans for the house and architectural features as well as creating a plan for the landscape gardens, which were designed in the manner of the 18th century English style.
‘‘We settled on designing a house that was as close to a Georgian house as you can do, with modern regulations about building.’’
Seven years later, Willowbrook Park was finally completed.
‘‘This style really resonates with a period of history that I’m interested in.
‘‘We both have a love of art and antiques, particularly Georgian antiques and the Georgian styling.’’
The house is fitted with art and antiques Peter and David have collected over a decade.
The grandfather clock in the hallway dates to 1750, and is the same date as the London Hospital where Peter worked for 20 years.
‘‘It was made in a place in England where they did the testing for the aircraft Concorde,’’ Peter said.
Willowbrook Park is one of 10 homes to be on display at the Fine Homes Touron Friday, November 10.
The tour raises money for two charities. This year’s proceeds will go to the Waikato Breast Cancer Research Trust and the Hamilton NZ Riding for the Disabled.
Tickets to this year’s tour are already sold out.