When David Cameron lost his job during Covid, he wasn’t sure where he would end up next.
He certainly didn’t expect to be living next to decades-old train carriages in rural Canterbury.
“When Covid happened I was made redundant from my job in a finance company, so I had to look for an alternative,” Cameron told OneRoof.
“There were so many people looking for jobs but not enough jobs.”
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His search for work led him to 10 Glenmark Drive, in Waipara, where he found four train carriages that had been turned into guest accommodation. The business was for sale and Cameron and his wife Karen jumped at the chance to buy it.
“We went and had a look at it and I fell in love with the place. I thought ‘this is so cool. Who wouldn’t want to stay in a train rather than staying in a motel where every room is exactly the same’,” he said.
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The previous owners had purchased the four 1940s old guards wagons in the 1990s and craned them onto the 1.77-hectare site. “They are over 80 years and so cool. They are still looking like what they would be in the olden days,” Cameron said.
The couple sold their house in West Melton and moved into the four-bedroom home next to their new business in 2020.
Cameron said while a lot of people thought Waipara was ages away, it is only 10 minutes from Amberley and 45 minutes from Christchurch. Karen kept her job at an energy company in Rangiora and the commute took almost the same amount of time.
As soon as they moved in, they invested a lot of time and money bringing it up to modern standards, which they believed has paid off, with the Google rating for the Waipara Sleepers rising from 3.4 to 4.6.
The train carriages sleep between two and three people and are popular with European tourists. Photo / Supplied
The four carriages, a railway hut and railway cabin can accommodate up to four people each. Cameron said a large chunk of their visitors come from Europe. “They love the quirkiness. The uniqueness of staying in a smaller accommodation.”
On the other side of the property is separate accommodation for woofers and vineyard workers, which Cameron said had kept the business turning during Covid and winter.
Most of those workers were from France and stayed with them while working on one of the 70 vineyards in what was the country’s fifth biggest wine region.
As well as upgrading the accommodation, the couple also renovated their 1950s home – they even splashed out on some beautiful English House of Hackney wallpaper, which cost $480 a roll, and velvet curtains from the same brand. They also enclosed the sunroom, added a $20,000 deck, painted the house and laid new carpet.
The couple have loved their time at the property but Cameron said his wife had landed an exciting new role in Te Anau, Southland, so they were selling up, putting a $995,000 price tag on the property and business.
Cameron said there was so much that could be done to the property and it would suit someone looking for an easily manageable business.
The main four-bedroom home has been tastefully renovated. Photo / Supplied
Expensive House of Hackney wallpaper is a striking feature of the home. Photo / Supplied
Alternatively, it also lent itself as a lifestyle property and the previous owners had kept horses, chickens and pigs, he said.
“It’s a fabulous business and I think it’s a steal for what it’s going for,” he said.
“The block of land this size would probably be the same price, then you’ve got this four-bedroom house with three livings areas and a large swimming pool.
“There’s just so much with the business. We’ve got a four-bay shed, two double garages, a studio as well. It’s got a lot of potential.”
Ray White listing agent Fiona McDonald said so far those interested had mainly been locals looking for a secondary income such as stay-at-home mums or semi-retired people. “The people who have enquired are generally interested in that home plus income.”
McDonald said the asking price was for the home, land and business chattels and the business itself was essentially being thrown in.
“For that to have an income on a secondary block of land – it is incredibly good value.”
A 4ha bare block of land in Waipara would sell for about $450,000, while a brand new home on a 700sqm section could fetch around mid-$800,000, she added.
- 10 Glenmark Drive, in Waipara, Hurunui, is seeking buyer enquiry over $995,000
