- The former Pahīatua Hospital, now Masters Hall, is for sale after being used as a hospitality and accommodation venue.
- Cathy and Andy Vaughan hosted events like medieval re-enactments and vintage motorcycle rallies at the site.
- The property, built in 1902, features 30 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms, and has attracted investors and event organisers.
A small-town hospital that has witnessed everything from broken bones and heart operations to medieval combat and paranormal investigations has hit the market for sale.
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The former Pahīatua Hospital, which closed its doors to patients in 1998, has even been Santa Claus’s home away from home, with the building famous throughout the region for hosting annual Christmas Wonderland events.
It is now up for grabs, having been run by the current owners as a hospitality and accommodation venue for almost a decade.
Cathy and Andy Vaughan bought the sprawling site, dubbed Masters Hall, eight years ago and have hosted countless events, ranging from weddings to festivals, as well as housing contractors in the off-season.
“Probably one of the most memorable events was a medieval re-enactment,” Cathy told OneRoof. Andy added: “We had about 100 people attend, dressed as Templar knights, Romans, Normans, and Saxons - the whole gamut.”
The property closed its doors to patients in the 1990s and is now run as an events and accommodation business. Photo / Supplied
The medieval re-enactments at the property have been some of the most memorable events held there. Photo / Supplied
The re-enactment group constructed a castle from 100 pallets and held mock fights with all sorts of weapons. “They had an archery competition and were planning to bring in horses for jousting, but the Covid restrictions prevented that,” Cathy said.
Other gatherings have included everything from scrap booking, quilters, sewing and knitting groups, to a national rally for vintage Indian motorcycles. “Some of the motorcycles were nearly 100 years old,” Andy said. “We get a lot of vintage car groups - the Austin group, the Capri club, and the caravan club. They’ve all pitched their vans on the front lawn.”
And in October last year, the Vaughans hosted a weekend celebrating the 80th anniversary of Polish child evacuees arriving in Pahīatua from Europe.
The property has also attracted the attention of paranormal investigators. “A couple of groups have come in with infrared cameras looking for ghosts,” Cathy said. “Before we took over, they detected quite a bit of activity. But after we had the place blessed and started living here, they said it felt peaceful and calm, which makes sense, as it was a place of healing.”
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Despite this, ghost stories persist. “Big, burly men seem to be the most concerned,” she said. “We had rugby teams come in, and they were nervous about ghosts.” Recently, a flickering fluorescent light during a volleyball tournament spooked some teenage boys. “Their first thought was, ‘It’s a ghost’,” Cathy said.
The couple said they had worked hard to respect the property’s past life as a hospital. While much of the property’s history remains undocumented, the Vaughans have filled in some of the gaps with stories from guests and locals. “Some of the history we have gathered from guests who used to work here,” Cathy said. “One woman in her 90s told us she started in the laundry and worked her way up to becoming a cook.
“Sometimes, guests walk past a room and say, ‘Oh, that’s where my brother was when he broke his leg’ or ‘I had my tonsils out in this room’. We’ve even had people say, ‘I remember visiting my grandparents here’.”
One unverified tale involves the hospital’s former matron making her rounds accompanied by a bulldog. “We don’t know how true it is, but it’s a fun story,” said Cathy.
The hospital was built in 1902 and expanded in 1940 and again in 1960 to its current footprint of 2330sqm. Once it closed in 1998, it was renamed Masters Hall. It now boasts 30 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, a crenelated tower, and storerooms converted from the morgues.
The property could suit investors or buyers looking to take over a cherished business. Photo / Supplied
The property sits on more than two hectares zoned for residential development. Photo / Supplied
The Vaughans said they had enjoyed their time running Masters Hall but were ready for a change. “A couple of reasons. My 91-year-old mother lives with us, and she needs to be closer to a hospital. That’s a bit ironic, isn’t it?” Cathy said.
“Also, we’re both retirement age now, so we’re looking to retire. We love it here. The lifestyle is amazing. But we’re starting to run out of energy and want to take it easy and be closer to our grandchildren.”
The future of the site is wide open. “Hopefully, someone will continue running the business. It’s a very flexible property. It could be an academy, a healing retreat, a writer’s sanctuary, or an artist’s commune,” Andy said.
Property Brokers agent Patrick Baker has a personal connection to the property - he was born there. “My mum was also one of the last nurses working there.”
The site was also an important part of the community. “When I was president of the local Bush Rugby Club, we hosted an American team, and they stayed there. It attracts a lot of people, and it’s a very cool place,” Baker said, noting its solid construction. “The gas boilers all work; everything still works. It’s got a high engineer’s report. It’s a very sound and sturdy building.”
Baker told OneRoof that the scale of the property and its residential zoning were real drawcards. “It’s a large chunk of residential-zoned land right on the outskirts of Pahīatua, and that’s what makes it attractive. There’s no heritage status, so in theory, it could be demolished, although that would be sad.”
Initial interest came from investors and people wanting to take over the accommodation and events business.
- 81861 State Highway 2, Pahiatua, Tararua, is for sale by negotiation
