Nelson Mail

Cottage transforme­d to modern home

As one of eight children, Pat Higgins’ bedroom was a freezing lean-to shared with his three brothers. But look at the old cottage now, Joanna Davis writes.

- The house is one of 10 open to the public on Sunday, November 20, as a fundraiser for Nelson Tasman Hospice. Tickets are $50 and available online.

As one of eight children, Pat Higgins slept in a lean-to with his three brothers and it was so cold in winter that ice would form on the inside of the windows. His sisters shared another single room inside.

At 73, he is still living in the same house, now with his wife of 38 years, Ginny, but the old 1930s two-bedroom cottage has been transforme­d into a modern, warm and comfortabl­e threebedro­om, two-bathroom home.

Pat says the Richmond (Tasman) property has been in his family for three generation­s, and was a run-off from the main dairy farm nearby in Appleby.

After his mother was widowed when her youngest child was 18 months old, she managed to keep the farm, providing milk to maintain the town supply.

‘‘This was a woman who with 500g of mince could feed 20 people,’’ says Ginny, 63, of her late mother-in-law, who she describes as formidable.

Ginny and Pat Higgins bought Pat’s siblings out of the house after they married in 1984 and raised their own two boys there. It was cold, Ginny says, saying it is just as well they had hardy sons who could be bundled up in extra thermal layers.

About three years ago, they looked at all options, including demolishin­g the house, and buying elsewhere, but ‘‘nothing ticked our boxes’’, Ginny says, so they decided to sell off a lot of their land and undertake a major renovation.

A boundary change allowed them to sell to their neighbour; subdividin­g was not possible for the rural-designated land.

The massive overhaul included the kitchen being moved to a north-facing position, a new ensuite for the main bedroom, a new roof, repairs to piles, and the house was fully insulated, including double glazing. They still have 1.04 hectares, and plenty of space for the half-hectare of flower and vegetable gardens they tend.

‘‘The rest of the land is for Paddy’s little flock of sheep. He loves to keep his hand in still,’’ Ginny says.

She says most of the garden work is divided along gender lines.

‘‘Pat does all the vege gardens, keeps us nearly self-sufficient.

‘‘I garden the rest and titivate.’’ She says they feel fortunate to live where they do.

‘‘We love and feel very protective of our property.

‘‘We don’t strive for perfection but we do work at creating a garden that connects to the greater surroundin­gs.

‘‘We still enjoy the view to the old farm land area, and continue to take in the greater landscape and the mountains.’’

During the rebuild, the couple stayed on a corner of the property in the old cowshed, which is where they stay when they have guests.

During the first lockdown in 2020, by which time the renovation was complete, Pat, a former builder, made what they call the Crystal Palace, a cabin in the corner of a paddock which they use for a ‘‘resting room’’.

As he couldn’t buy any supplies, Pat made it entirely from fence posts that he planed and sawed into lengths. He used many pieces of leftover plasterboa­rd for the interior and painted it white with leftover undercoat from the main house.

Even the nails used were just what he happened to have on hand.

The path leading to the cabin is made from bricks from a chimney they dismantled.

The property is full of family treasures, ‘‘heritage pieces’’, Ginny says, including her mum’s day-bed, a framed tapestry her stepfather made while on bed rest with TB, an Irish hand-cut crystal bowl and some Murano glass.

Having lived in the same house all his life, Pat says it would be ‘‘frightenin­g’’ to leave, although he accepts it might happen one day if they need care.

‘‘We have a real sense of rooted foundation here,’’ Ginny adds. ‘‘The kids [sons Billy, 36, and Joe, 37] love the idea of the house being here.’’

When Stuff visits, Pat is making extra outdoor seating for visitors who will come when the couple open their home as part of a house and garden tour for Nelson Tasman Hospice on November 20.

Ginny says they wanted to be involved in the fundraiser as she finished her nursing career as a hospice nurse in 2008, and loved the way the hospice philosophy allowed her to ‘‘give care working in absolute partnershi­p with the person and their wha¯nau’’.

A family member also died more recently in hospice care and Ginny says the care she received was exceptiona­l.

‘‘The family felt [she] was loved by the team, and the care was compassion­ate and excellent.’’

 ?? BRADEN FASTIER/STUFF ?? Pat Higgins has lived at the Swamp Rd, Appleby, Tasman, home his whole life and Ginny has been there since they married.
BRADEN FASTIER/STUFF Pat Higgins has lived at the Swamp Rd, Appleby, Tasman, home his whole life and Ginny has been there since they married.
 ?? ?? Ginny and Pat Higgins undertook a massive renovation on the house to make it their forever home.
Ginny and Pat Higgins undertook a massive renovation on the house to make it their forever home.
 ?? ?? The Higgins are opening their home and garden for a Nelson Tasman Hospice fundraiser on November 20.
The Higgins are opening their home and garden for a Nelson Tasman Hospice fundraiser on November 20.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from New Zealand