Raised in Cromwell, Lauren Christie knows the lie of the River Terrace lifestyle blocks better than most.
Back in her university days, she’d walk or cycle from her home to her holiday job at the fruit store owned by a local stone fruit orchardist.
Now, Lauren is back on neighbouring land, as the Queenstown-based general manager for Winton, the development company behind the first five River Terrace lifestyle blocks for sale in its 17-lot development.
The properties which range from 1.94ha to 2.51ha and start at $975,000 are being marketed by Bayleys agents Jimmy Allen, Jessica Coburn, and Renee Anderson.
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Lauren knows her way round construction development. She has a PhD in building sciences. She also knows this land, from its mountainous, light-filled backdrop to the shores of the nearby Kawarau River and Lake Dunstan and their gold-mining history.
Wearing a different hat in her Winton role makes it doubly special.
“The land is something that’s in your blood,” she says.
“It never leaves you. You have to go away to appreciate it but when you come back you realise it's just a really unique place. This land is about opportunity, large flat blocks with natural light on the surrounding vistas and unimpeded views that you just can’t describe in words.”
Taking shape on this bare land off Sandflat Road is the landscaping that will define the 17 lifestyle blocks, ranging from 1.38ha to 3.92 ha, that will make up the 36.7 ha River Terrace development.
Specimen trees, native plantings, dry stacked Otago schist stone walls and post-and-rail fences will shape the entry in. Evergeen hedges will define each site, in keeping with the texture of this countryside that is rich in horticulture, agriculture and viticulture.
This is Winton’s latest Central Otago lifestyle venture and marking its launch is the arrival of its pioneer-style, red-stained weatherboard cottage site office that is almost a landmark in its own right.
Before now, it has done site office duty at Winton’s other lifestyle projects in Queenstown and Wanaka. Here it is located close to lots 9-13, the five lots for sale, ranging from 1.94ha to 2.51 ha, that are the closest to the Kawarau River to the south-west.
“Within a few days of going to market, some were already under contract with interest both locally and elsewhere in New Zealand,” says Lauren.
“These blocks are generous in size and have flexibility for buyers to create their own country escape to work and play at home, with plenty of room for a secondary dwelling and multiple bay garaging.”
Infrastructure site works are anticipated to start in spring, says Lauren. These will include sealed access off Sandflat Road, sealed driveway crossings and power and water services to each boundary.
The staged release of the remaining 12 sections, ranging in size from 1.3ha to 3.92 ha, is due over the next 12 months.
For Winton, River Terrace is a vision in keeping with the evolution of this Otago area.
“Once the centre of the gold mining industry, this iconic Kiwi outpost has now become a bustling, modern township, home to art galleries, artisanal delicacies, and award-winning wineries,” says Lauren.
