Haka Tourism Group founder Ryan Sanders first learnt Earnscleugh Station Homestead was for sale when a staff member sent him the link. Video / ODT
Haka Tourism Group founder Ryan Sanders first learnt Earnscleugh Station Homestead was for sale when a staff member sent him the link as a possible site for luxury backpackers accommodation.
He had other ideas, sending it to his husband, Marco Creemers, with a note saying, "Stuff it, we'll live there".
The couple were in Alexandra this week with friends and family to organise waterproofing of the category 1 listed historic place and learn about its history.
In 1919, Spain had noted architect Edmund Anscombe draw up plans for a castle-like building in the Victorian-Edwardian-Jacobethan style of between 1880 and 1920. Photo / ODT
Creemers, of Auckland, is a project director for Samson Corporation, where he has overseen many new buildings, green buildings and restorations of buildings.
The couple had tracked down and read the book, Castle on the Run written by Gay McInnes, the granddaughter of the home's builder, Stephen Spain, who lived in the mansion with her mother, aunt and her aunt's family.
In 1919, Spain had noted architect Edmund Anscombe draw up plans for a castle-like building in the Victorian-Edwardian-Jacobethan style of between 1880 and 1920.
The new owners want to learn all they can about the mansion's colourful past to "educate and inform how we want to move forward".
The mansion was never completed to plans, which called for the brickwork and concrete pillars to be plastered over, as is obvious from the spaces left between the brickwork and windows, Sanders said.
The main changes will be functional, with the waterproofing being the most urgent task, followed by rewiring and heating. Photo / ODT
The kitchens and bathrooms need replacing but they wish to honour the mansion's past in its new life, with lush curtains and chandeliers and furniture that suits the era.
"Ultimately, the imperfections are part of the attraction," Sanders said.
His tour group operates nationwide with increasingly more work in Australia also.
"But this is where we'll be spending our time unless we're travelling for work."
