- Chelsea and Gareth McGlynn are selling their family home and Picton’s oldest home, the House of Glenora.
- The eight-bedroom house, built in 1863, has been renovated and features a mini orchard and heritage oak tree.
- Bayleys agent Georgia O’Malley highlights its potential for residential or business use, with its prime location and water views.
Chelsea and Gareth McGlynn didn’t have any definite plans when they saw the For Sale sign outside the House of Glenora, Picton’s oldest residence, 15 years ago.
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They decided to look around the eight-bedroom house, and it was love at first sight. “We went away, talked about it, and then made an offer the same day,” Chelsea told OneRoof.
The large kitchen has rimu cupboards and a new walk-in butler’s pantry. Photo / Supplied
The home, which is located in the centre of Picton, has sea views. Photo / Supplied
“We didn’t know what we were going to do with it. It was only us, we didn’t have any children at the time, we just bought it to live in. We loved the location, and the house had a good feel about it.”
Chelsea told OneRoof they hosted many parties in their first five years. “We always, always had people say to us in those five years, ‘Oh, when are you going to fill it up with kids, when are you starting a family?’ and all that sort of stuff.”
The couple had their first child in 2015, but it was the arrival of their triplets in 2019 when the house turned into a “beautiful family home”.
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“We brought our kids up there, and they’ve got so many cool memories,” Chelsea said, citing teddy bear picnics on the lawn and piñata parties by the large oak tree.
The couple said they rewired, re-roofed and painted the house as part of various upgrades over the years.
Glenora House was built in 1863 by Picton’s first resident magistrate, John Allen. Over the years, it has been a grand home for the city’s elite and a boarding and weaving school.
The heritage-protected 160-year-old oak tree on the front lawn is a real feature and provides a lot of shade. Photo / Supplied
The huge master bedroom could have multiple uses, including as a yoga studio or a family room for an Airbnb. Photo / Supplied
Chelsea said the home had so much potential, noting that the previous owners had been gearing up to run it as a bed and breakfast. The separate flat could be rented out, as could other spaces in the house.
Bayleys agent Georgia O’Malley, who is marketing the property with colleague Emily Bradbury, said they had received interest from all over the South Island. “We haven’t had anyone from the North Island yet, but we have got a local business owner viewing it next week,” she told OneRoof.
The property, which has an RV of $1.66 million, was a standout in the market, she said, adding that Picton had a great holiday feel. “It’s the lifestyle you are moving for. Most properties have water views, and the weather is really nice.”
- 22 Broadway, in Picton, Marlborough, for sale, deadline closing April 23
