PROPERTY DETAILS

the fine finishes that Linda and Steve have achieved inside the lodge, from the gleaming brasswork on light fittings to the immaculate plaster detail overhead.

Through the original kauri front door with its fluted-glass panel is a welcoming foyer space with the timber staircase rising to the guest bedrooms. The timber floors in here and the stair treads were once carpeted, but Linda suspected this treasure of timber lay beneath and lifted the carpet to reveal it. Ceilings are an impressive 4m (about 13 feet) above you.

Apart from the outside features that needed restoring, the rest of the house was rich with original detail when Linda and Steve moved in. It was time for a refresh, though, and they put in the time and effort – and an appreciable investment – to bring it back to its full glory.

To the left of the front door is the guest sitting room where that box window and another tall sash window let light stream into the room. The dark-teal wallpaper and timber floor and fireplace features combine to create a sense of comfortable opulence.

The room opposite the foyer is the guest dining room where Linda chose a rich red for the wallpaper. Another timber fireplace, updated with an efficient gas-flame insert, adds warmth and atmosphere in winter, while two sets of French doors open out to the verandah where there is plenty of room for breakfasts or barbecues in summer. From here, you can look out to the in-ground concrete swimming pool that was built in 1957, but later fell into disuse.

‘‘The pool hadn’t had water in it for 10 years, so we restored it and put the fence around it.’’

Linda planned three guest bedrooms upstairs, each with an ensuite bathroom. A small room between the two front bedrooms was sacrificed to create the ensuites for those rooms and the work was done so carefully that most guests today would not detect what had been done.

The spacious bedrooms appropriately carry the names of the families involved in the history here: the Isaac Bayly Suite, the Lovell Suite, and the Blyth Suite. The Isaac Bayly Suite is the master bedroom and enjoys the access out to that private balcony above the lower box window. The Lovell Suite is off the halfway landing and uses the original bathroom as its ensuite. The original clawfoot bath is a feature in here.

With these bedrooms dedicated to guests, Linda and Steve extended the lower portion of the villa to create private family quarters for themselves and renovated the kitchen to cater for guest meals. A door at the back of the foyer opens into their space, where you find a comfortable living area, the kitchen facilities, an office, and three double bedrooms.

The extension was carefully built to complement the villa construction and materials and to avoid any impression of an add-on effect. A similar approach has been taken with the church and cottage buildings, painted in the same colours as the villa to provide a visual connection.

Both are an easy stroll from the villa, through the gardens that provide an element of separation. A wide lawn between the church and cottage is the setting for a large marquee that can be erected for larger weddings and gatherings.

The church was more than doubled in size and another commercial kitchen installed. The ceilings in the new hall area were coved and panelled to add a complementary sense of character, and up to 140 guests can be seated inside. An expansive timber deck means it is also a great venue for outdoor entertaining. The cottage provides two double bedrooms and a double sofa bed to accommodate up to six guests. It’s marketed as perfect for a romantic getaway or retreat, and presented in an appealing understated classical elegance. The wrap-around verandah has drop-down clear curtains to create extra space with weather protection. This sale comprises the Tairoa Lodge residence, Tairoa Church function centre, Tairoa Cottage, and the original 10 acres of land.

By Mike Shaw

Location: 3 Puawai St, Hawera.

Land area: About 4.2 hectares (approximately 10 acres).

Price: Tenders close 2pm, Thursday, May 19, 2022, at First National Collective office, 202 High St, Hawera 4160.

Viewing: By appointment.

Website: https://www.fntaranaki.co.nz/HAWS2457

Agents: Shawn and Pam Gibbon, Licensed Agents REAA 2008

Phone: Shawn 027 600 4229, Pam 021 109 2814.

Email: shawn@fntaranaki.co.nz or pam@fntaranaki.co.nz