A former 160-year-old church school teacher’s residence - first lived in by an uncompromisingly strict headmaster - has been placed on the market for sale.
The historic Dalcroy House at 16 Godley Quay in the Christchurch suburb of Lyttleton was built in 1859 with funding from the local Presbyterian school. The grand dwelling was constructed by the church to such a scale to attract a headmaster from the UK.
Records show its first resident was Scottish-born Reverend James Fergusson - who named the majestic two-storey homestead Dalcroy House after his parish in Scotland.
Teaching at the nearby school, Reverend Fergusson was an advocate for the Victorian-era mantra “spare the rod and spoil the child,” according to Dalcroy House’s current owner, Shonagh O’Hagan.
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“However, Reverend Fergusson loved Dalcroy House so much, that he bought the stately residence from the church and subsequently going on to open his own school – Reverend Fergusson’s Boarding and Day School for the Education of Young Gentlemen. He then ran the institution for 15-years.”
Now Dalcroy House, situated overlooking Lyttleton Harbour is on the market for sale following a substantial three-year-long refurbishment. The home has been completely re-wired, re-plumbed, insulated, a new roof and anew kitchen installed and totally repainted inside and out.
The property at 16 Godley Quay is now being marketed for sale through Bayleys Canterbury, with offers invited on or before March 20 (unless sold prior).
Salesperson Sarah Eastmond said that while the "bones" of Dalcroy House remained intact and true to their origins some 160 years ago – such as the ornate fireplaces and stained glass windows – the lengthy restoration and strengthening of the home has created a more modern living environment.
Ms Eastmond said the six-bedroom/three-bathroom layout of Dalcroy House reflected the straight-laced persona of Reverend Fergusson’s period – with a formal lounge, sitting room, an expansive dining room and a staircase at either end of the home.
She said Dalcroy House is in great condition – with the refurbishment work painstakingly completed to remain as authentic as possible to the Victorian era.
“The most recent restoration work within Dalcroy House has seen the installation of recycled rimu replacing some of the old damaged Baltic Pine flooring which was originally recycled from the ships the settlers arrived on, along with the weatherboard exterior cladding re-instated - complete with the dovetail cornered joinery used by tradesmen in the period when the home was first built,” Ms Eastmond said.
“The work has been undertaken to standards that will see Dalcroy House last for at least another 160 years.”
Ms O’Hagan said that while Reverend Fergusson’s early tenancy provided the foundations for Dalcroy House’s colorful past, other subsequent owners had each added more rich layers of intrigue to the property.
“The first owners of Dalcroy House after Reverend Fergussson were Elizabeth and Daniel McIntyre. He was a mercantile navy captain, and on the day her husband’s boat was due back in port after every sailing, Elizabeth Mcintyre would stand on the front porch waiting for the fist sign of his vessel’s unfurled sails to come through the harbor entrance so that she knew he had arrived safely from another journey,” she said.
“Then during World War II, 19 female navy ratings and stenographers were billeted at the house, which during the war years was known as The Wrenery. During the 1980s it was run as a guesthouse and function venue which hosted Victorian-themed parties.
Ms Eastmond added: “Dalcroy House reeks of history and heritage, and we expect large numbers of visitors through the open home who are simply interested in seeing how the refurbishment has been completed staying true to the home’s roots.”
