COUNTRY CHARM
Off the scenic Mt Biggs Road, a majestic tree-lined driveway leads to ‘Greenlea’ one of the most stunning country secrets of the Lower North Island. Jordan Gowan revisits his former Manawatu haunts to uncover the story behind this grand estate.
Nestled deep into the rolling hills of Halcombe, a charming rural settlement in the Manawatu/Wanganui area, ‘Greenlea’ stands as a landmark home offering a unique combination of historic character and modern comfort. Built over 100 years ago, the home’s construction around 1914 falls between the Edwardian and Art Deco eras into the design style known as “Art Nouveau”. This decorative style infuses the home with grandeur throughout, from the high-stud ceilings to the stained glass windows and native timber fittings. It was this special character which drew owners Spencer and Margaret Morris to Greenlea over 20 years ago. Falling
in love with the heritage property and wanting to make it their family home, they set to work to lovingly restore the interior to include modern amenities, while resisting the temptation to fully modernise it. “The house and garden have responded amazingly well to our input – we like to say ‘it has great bones’,” says Margaret. Enjoying entertaining and the indooroutdoor lifestyle offered on the 5.6ha property, the Morris’s have crafted beautiful formal gardens for all to enjoy, filled with nesting and grounddwelling birdlife. Visitors here have said the peace and seclusion of the garden makes the property feel like paradise. Indoors, the home is equally heavenly with its two lounges, separate dining, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a study/library and a billiards room providing for the whole family. Surrounded by four paddocks, lawns, a large garage and numerous outbuildings, there’s space enough here for children to enjoy a pony while adults throw wedding/garden parties or start a homestay business. On the doorstep of the largely undiscovered Rangitikei region, it’s just 7 minutes drive to Feilding or 15 minutes to Palmerston North, while the nearby SH1 and SH3 give access to the whole lower North Island. With their children having “flown the coup”, Spencer and Margaret are themselves moving on, but leave behind the magnificent ‘Greenlea’ for its new owners to love as much as they have. They say its a home they’ll miss, but never forget. “Once you have lived here it is never forgotten and remains in your heart forever.”