"That was pretty special but also opening up for the likes of Hospice Holly Trail and meeting lots of locals who didn't know the house was here. It's been very special to be able to share it with the community."
He added that he had also enjoyed hosting an array of guests.
"It's a very high-end luxury property and predominantly we get high-end international guests. Every guest is special and we have had some lovely guest staying here but it doesn't really matter how famous they are, it's how much they enjoy themselves."
The Greenhill Lodge property and business are now being jointly being marketed for sale through an international tender by Bayleys Auckland and Bayleys Hawke's Bay, with tenders closing at 4pm on March 27.
Bayleys salespeople John Greenwood and Fiona MacKenzie said that with its regal pedigree, Greenhill Lodge literally was one of the 'jewels in the crown' of Hawke's Bay's accommodation sector.
Mr Greenwood said that while the heritage classification of Greenhill Lodge limited the amount of refurbishment or expansion work which could be undertaken on the main homestead, the expanse of surrounding land meant there was plenty of scope for adding new accommodation options.
The plush turn-of-the-century venue has five luxurious guest rooms. In addition, the lodge also operates a two-bedroom stand-alone cottage.
Located 15 minutes from Hastings and built in 1898, the pioneer-style lodge – complete with a three-storey tower - sits on some 29.5ha of freehold countryside.
Greenhill was once part of the enormous Maraekakaho Station before it was subdivided off by Scottish pioneering farmer Archibald McLean who had the homestead built.
Following the conclusion of World War I, the home's gardens were landscaped by renown colonial New Zealand gardener Alfred Buxton whose signature design was the property's long, winding tree-lined gravel driveway.
Greenhill Lodge's most famous guest was the Queen Mother, who stayed at the lodge for two nights in 1958. The Queen Mother's residence at Greenhill was marked by the raising of the royal standard from the tower flag pole at the top of the three-storey viewing tower accessed by an ornate stairway in the middle of the homestead.
The business employs two fulltime food and beverage staff, a housekeeper, and gardener. Owner/manager's accommodation at Greenhill Lodge consists of two separate bedrooms, kitchenette, and lounge area within the main homestead.
Mr Greenwood said the Greenhill homestead-style lodge could also be reverted to a luxury private residence – which could be let out when not in use by its owners.
