“It’s a highlight of the year for us. It’s special and unique.”
There are six bedrooms, four living areas and an independent studio, Dove Cottage.
Recent additions include a modern kitchen and heat pumps.
Clark said the 1.03ha property had a tennis court, which could offer a business opportunity.
“It’s very protected so you could have a marquee on there with functions.
“There are even white doves. It’s the perfect place for weddings.”
Peter and Liz Cullen sold Fernielea in 2018 after living there for 24 years.
Clark said the current owners were selling to move closer to family.
Fernielea has Class B heritage status in Whanganui District Council’s district plan.
The council’s heritage inventory says the style of the house is rustic gothic and is one of several built in Fordell in the 19th century.
Clark said some people were drawn to “the quirks” of historic properties such as Fernielea, which had a secret room.
“With the way it’s set off the road, and with the grounds being so lovely, it’s just a magical place.”
Fernielea was in the same family for more than 110 years. Photo / Bayleys Whanganui According to the heritage inventory, when the Young brothers first saw the land, it was covered in tall ferns which led to the name.
A year after building Fernielea, William Young married Catherine Blyth, daughter of James Blyth of Marybank, the inventory said.
“The family was involved with the Matarawa Presbyterian Church, and this included hosting garden parties at their property on behalf of the church.
“In 1906, the couple’s eldest daughter, Anne, married Harold G. Lewis, and in 1912, she took over the property.”
Catherine died at the property the same year.
By 1979, Fernielea was owned by her only son, William, and his wife, Lynley.
Council heritage adviser Scott Flutey said similar houses in the area included Oneida, Lambhill and Netherdale.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if there were more ones,” he said.
“We are lucky to have the ones we do have and that’s because the owners have maintained them well.”
Flutey said rustic goth was a “frontier society version of gothic”.
“If you go to Dunedin or Ōamaru, you might see gothic buildings or houses in stone from that time.
“We didn’t have access to that sort of material so we used the wonderful timber we do have.”
Fernielea, built of rimu, tōtara and kauri, has a rating valuation of $1.35 million.
Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle . Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.
