Historic homestead on the market
A lovingly restored O¯amaru stone homestead, with rich historical ties to the emergence of New Zealand’s agricultural economy, is for sale for only the third time in 150 years.
Totara Estate Homestead is a nationally significant period house set on 5.6ha of secluded grounds, only 8km from O¯ amaru’s town centre.
The 18-room homestead was built in 1868 as the main home for a large Scottish-owned farming enterprise, which pioneered New Zealand’s frozen meat and dairy industries.
It is constructed of imposing Oamaru ¯ stone and boasts many impressive heritage features including ornate plaster ceilings and cornices, period wallpaper, Baltic pine joinery, and timber and tile flooring.
Lived in by only a handful of families, the 650sq m homestead has been painstakingly restored and maintained by current owners George and Carol Berry, who purchased the property in 1973.
The couple are now reluctantly selling up to move closer to family, providing a unique opportunity for a new owner to embark on a new chapter in the homestead’s storied history.
The property would make an exceptional country home to enjoy, or a unique business asset with potential for boutique accommodation, hospitality and events.
Colliers has been exclusively appointed to market the property at 583 Alma Maheno Road, O¯ amaru, for sale by deadline private treaty closing at 4pm on Wednesday 7 May, unless it sells earlier.
Ruth Hodges, National Co-Director of Rural and Agribusiness at Colliers, says it is rare for such a significant piece of New Zealand colonial history to come to the market.
“Totara Estate Homestead provides an exceptional opportunity to secure a prestigious country estate with one of the finest period houses to be found in the beautiful South Island.
“It is a truly special property, as reflected by its Category 2 Heritage NZ listing for historic, architectural, aesthetic and archaeological significance.
“The two-storey homestead and its ancillary stone buildings have been fully restored and modernised, with great care taken to preserve the many Victorian period features.
“The house’s main family wing boasts seven bedrooms, two bathrooms, a parlour, drawing room, large formal dining room and fully renovated country-style kitchen with attached family dining.
“The former staff wing is set up as a separate apartment with its own kitchen, bathroom, lounge, bedroom and sunroom, with its own entrance and driveway. This would make an ideal manager’s residence if the main wing were adapted as guest accommodation.
“Two ancillary stone buildings, originally built as a dairy and cold store, have been restored and repurposed as a billiards room, wine cellar and vault. These could easily be converted again for hospitality uses.
“A substantial woolshed and covered yards could also easily be converted to a function centre.
“The buildings are set on a beautifully landscaped, elevated site with an impressive variety of up to 150-yearold trees. The grounds feature stone walls, a tennis court, grazing paddocks and picturesque gardens – perfect for weddings and other outdoor events.
“The original owners regarded the homestead as the ‘gem’ of their vast farming enterprise. Now is the time to make this gem yours.”
The current owners have enjoyed the property for almost 50 years, but it wasn’t always so immaculately presented. George Berry recalls the property had deteriorated considerably by the time he and Carol took possession.
“The stone structure was perfectly sound but most of the ground floor needed to be replaced. We had to renovate the house, room by room, with the help of wonderful tradespeople from Oamaru. ¯
“We had painters here for weeks and weeks, undertaking the painstaking work to restore the plaster ceilings and cornices.
“All the opening double-sash windows were taken apart, stripped, repainted and reinstalled with new sash cords, complemented by luxurious heavy drapes inside.
“The exterior woodwork and roofing have been repainted, stonework repaired as required, and the spouting and downpipes have been replaced in specially designed copper.”
Berry added: “It’s been a long and laborious process, but Carol and I are immensely proud to have restored the homestead to its original splendour.”