Elizabeth Kyle, nee Grainger, wants to raise $1.5m in just over a week to buy back Fantail Lodge in Katikati. Photo/George Novak
Elizabeth Kyle, nee Grainger, wants to raise $1.5m in just over a week to buy back Fantail Lodge in Katikati. Photo/George Novak
A Bay artist hopes to raise over $1.5m through crowd funding to buy a rural property in Katikati she once owned - with the aim of turning it into an art sanctuary.
Elizabeth Kyle, nee Grainger, was bought up on the land now known as Fantail Lodge onRea Rd, Katikati.
Charles Grainger bought 161 acres of land with the assistance of the Government after he returned from World War II serving in the 18th Battalion in Egypt and Crete.
He left a section of that land to his daughter, Elizabeth Kyle.
Ms Kyle, a visionary artist, had a vision of Fantail Lodge 37 years ago and drew it. With the help of architect Greg Vindriss her dream started to become a reality in 1981.
But the property was later sold as part of her divorce settlement in 1983, after only a section of the grand house had been built.
Elizabeth Kyle, nee Grainger, wants to raise $1.5m to buy back Fantail Lodge in Katikati. Photo/George Novak
Ms Kyle said she has been living in Australia for the past 25 years but returned home to New Zealand at the beginning of the month and realised the property was up for sale again.
She said she would like to buy the property but with real no money herself she is appealing to the public for help.
In return she would leave the estate in a trust for the local community to enjoy once she passes away.
"It will become a creative sanctuary for people to be inspired to discover or reconnect with their unique creativity. There needs to be more places like this," Ms Kyle told The Bay of Plenty Times.
Ms Kyle said people should donate to the Givealittle cause because she was not wanting the property just for herself.
"I am not doing this for me, well that is not exactly true - I am doing this for my visionary art, promoting visionary art as a genre.
"I am using everything that I have learned in life, that needs to be passed on, to create an environment to which many can come for inspiration, finding their own creative outlets and helping bring balance to an ever-increasing technological world.
"We need to use both sides of our brains. This sanctuary will be given to the community. However, I do want to be in charge of manifesting my vision."
The property has a current rateable value of just over $2m.
Real estate agent Ross Collins said there had been a lot of interest in the property.
