COUPLE’S HIRAETH RETURN FROM NZ
THE itch to live Down Under began for Graham Larsen, originally from Ely, Cardiff, in 1971, when he travelled around Australia and fell in love with the Southern Hemisphere.
The urge remained and spread to his wife, Sandra, too.
The childhood sweethearts, who met at Fitzalan High School during the 1960s, would eventually scratch the itch in 1987, moving to Perth, Australia, for six years.
But like a magnet, Wales pulled them home.
Many people dream of living abroad, but few have the courage to make the dream a reality; twice.
When the couple’s grown-up children left university in 2004, the boomerang was back and the couple headed Down Under again, aged 50 and 49.
For the second emigration the call of New Zealand was strong, perhaps due to its similarities with Wales.
Graham says: “West Otago on the South Island felt so much like home in countless different ways.
“The Victorian architecture was so much akin to many parts of Cardiff, the climate was very much like home but generally brighter and drier, the summer sun is much stronger.
“The Blue Mountains look like the mountains of south Wales in certain lights. Even the sheep are plentiful.”
It was property fate, though, that intervened during their travels and found them this house, the house of their dreams that felt like a home away from home.
Sandra stumbled across the property on the internet.
Graham says: “On the screen there was the most perfect character, Victorian homestead looking just idyllic nestled in the Pomahaka river valley at the foothills of Otago’s Blue Mountains.”
The couple didn’t hesitate. Graham remembers: “We took a long hard look at the mansion. It was exactly what we were looking for.”
Trish, the owner at that time, told the Welsh couple that the house had been empty for 20 years before they bought it in 1988. Trish, a film producer, and her film director partner had bought this particular house to star in a movie. They renovated the property to be the main setting for the supernatural love story told in the film The Returning.
And it was just like a love story in a movie when the Larsens ended up with their Down Under property happy-ever-after.
Graham explains: “We stayed a night and that was it. We were smitten. The house, the grounds, the locality – all were just perfect.
“Next day we travelled to the nearest town to see a solicitor and signed the contract for the agreed price, including all the furniture.
“This was a complete change of lifestyle, saddened only by the thought that we were leaving our family in Wales.”
The home had been restored to a high standard for the movie but it was a blank canvas waiting for the couple to bring their own style to the decor.
The couple found appropriate furniture in antique shops and collectors fairs, plus added two more ensuites to create a six-bedroom, five-bathroom property.
While the home changes were occurring the business was taking shape. Sandra had experience in the B&B industry but was worried about cooking for the restaurant.
Three months of worry later the couple re-opened the restaurant, to great success. Since then they have grown the business and taken on staff to create a vibrant venue offering functions such as parties and weddings, as well as the restaurant and bed-and-breakfast facilities.
One thing the restaurant in Mainholm doesn’t serve is Brains beer and Clark’s Pies.
“Oh, we miss them so much,” sighs Graham, “and proper fish and chips, country lanes and Marks & Spencer!”
So it was inevitable that the couple would put on a St David’s Day event.
Graham says: “It was quite a novelty for the locals and all the tables were booked out. Y Ddraig Goch proudly fluttered from the newly installed flag post on the verandah.
“Sandra’s home-made faggots bemused many locals but the Pwdin Mynwy (Monmouth pudding) was a huge success!”
But after many magical years Down Under the longing for Wales, the hiraeth, started to creep into Graham and Sandra’s New Zealand life.
Graham says: “We realised that Wales was still in our hearts. After much thought we decided we could spend alternate seasons in both of the countries we love.”
Wales will be their home base again, as they sell Mainholm after 16 years of happiness.
If you fancy following the couple’s footsteps their New Zealand home is for sale. The house and land is on the market for $749,000 with NZ estate agent One Agency, that’s about £366,000. But if you do buy it, just remember where you put your passport for the moment when Wales pulls you back home.