Luxury McHardy Lodge is a former maternity home and midwifery school. Photo / Supplied
Once a wealthy philanthropist's stately dwelling, McHardy Lodge also served as a maternity and midwifery facility before becoming an exclusive five-star luxury lodge.
Now the property and going concern business on the warm northerly side of Napier Hill — which has a sweeping view of the ocean and ranges beyond — have been placed on the market for sale.
Agents say it was built in the 1890s as the 'city residence' for Scottish immigrant Leslie McHardy, who ran a substantial sheep farm known as Blackhead Station some 90km south of Napier.
A generous philanthropist, McHardy allowed the family residence to be used as a nursing home to care for Kiwi soldiers returning home from battle in WW1 and shortly after, in 1917, the property was gifted to the Napier Hospital Board for conversion into a maternity home and midwifery school.
The property fulfilled this role for several decades until being closed down in the late 1970s.
In the 1990s McHardy House was fully restored once again become a stately private residence, before evolving into luxury accommodation in the mid-2000s.
Since then, the current owner has welcomed back hundreds of people who were born at the maternity home. The varied history of the lodge is an ever-popular drawcard and talking point for the many international guests that come to stay.
The McHardy Lodge residence and business at 11 Bracken St in Napier is now being marketed for sale by Bayleys Hawke's Bay, with international tenders closing at 2pm on August 10.
Bayleys Hawke's Bay, salesperson Nik Gannaway says the 566sq m lodge sits on 1766sq m of freehold Residential zoned land and features six luxuriously appointed guest suites, all with large ensuites.
"There are many living areas to explore throughout McHardy Lodge — including the full-sized billiard room, library and large formal dining area. Guests often gravitate towards the spacious and sunny family room which has a panoramic vista and leads via an open plan layout to the large, well-equipped kitchen." Gannaway says.
"Guests at McHardy Lodge can enjoy a glass of their favorite tipple on one of the gracious verandas overlooking the manicured garden; or have a dip in the heated, outdoor swimming pool.
"Renovations at the home have seen beautifully restored, high stud and metal ceilings, rich native wood flooring and period furnishings throughout combining to create a distinctively lavish and soothing ambience."
Qualmark-rated as a five-star boutique lodge from 2009 through to 2018, McHardy Lodge has developed an impeccable reputation among international travel agents with glowing guest reviews leading to Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence awards every year from 2012 through to 2018.
Bayleys Hawke's Bay salesperson Sam MacDonald said the property occupies a distinctive position in the market being Napier's only five-star boutique lodge.
"Hawkes Bay, along with the rest of New Zealand has been experiencing a surge in tourism over recent years. Not only are we seeing a greater diversity in countries of visitor origin but also a dramatic growth in their total spend," MacDonald says.
"There has been a marked increase in demand for luxury accommodation in Napier, driven by our famed Art Deco architectural tourism and award-winning wineries. It's also an amazing destination for cycling, golf, fishing and outdoor enthusiasts in general.
"McHardy Lodge is comfortably and profitability run by a sole operator but has ample scope for further business growth. Most guests are booked through well-established relationships with international travel agents forged by the current owner over the last 10 years; but the domestic market remains relatively untapped. Given the broadening range of activities and events the region has to offer the average length of guest stay also has plenty of potential to be increased," MacDonald says.
"The property has been meticulously maintained – both internally and externally – over the past decade of tenure in accordance with the standards one would expect at a boutique lodge. It is being marketed as a 'turn-key' operation with a solid number of future bookings already in the system through until the end of summer next year."
Audited financial accounts for McHardy Lodge show the business's net profit grew by 18.5 per cent from the 2015/16 financial year to the just completed 2017/18 financial year.