- A historic homestead in Napier, once owned by tobacco magnate Gerhard Husheer, is for sale.
- Owners Rick and Judi Hopkinson have run it as an Airbnb and built a replica next door.
- The home features Art Deco elements by architect Louis Hay and has a rich historical narrative.
A historic homestead once owned by New Zealand’s tobacco magnate has hit the market for sale in Napier.
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Owners Rick and Judi Hopkinson told OneRoof they have loved living at 14 Elizabeth Road, in Bluff Hill, so much they have built a smaller replica next door.
“When we were downsizing we wanted a house that was same but different,” Rick said of their “tiny” new homestead.
Since moving out, the couple have run 14 Elizabeth Road as an Airbnb, but they have decided now is the time to sell up.
The home has a rich history and was built for educator Henry Hill in the 1890s. Photo / Supplied
It has retained many of its original features including lead light windows and a push bell that guests once used to summon the servants living next door. Photo / Supplied
Rick said the homestead had been a hit with overseas visitors, who liked the historical aspect of the house. “They want to stay somewhere that’s got a real story to it as opposed to a hotel or motel room,” he said.
14 Elizabeth Road certainly has history. It was built in the 1890s for esteemed New Zealand educator Henry Hill, and, according to the OneRoof listing, it “became a social hub for local dignitaries, family and friends”.
The next owner was National Tobacco Company founder Gerhard Husheer, who commissioned well-known architect Louis Hay to remodel the home and the two others he owned on the street and give them an Art Deco stamp.
Under Hay’s direction, builders added an extra bedroom, lounge, and several balconies to 14 Elizabeth Road, as well as a double-length garage to house Husheer’s five-metre-long Studebaker Scotsman wagon.
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The Tiffany and Charles Rennie Mackintosh-inspired lead lighting found in the home is also a feature of the iconic National Tobacco Company building in the Napier suburb of Ahuriri and Husheer’s homes are a regular stop on Art Deco tours of the city.
“Originally the house was a box and when Louis Hay came along he created something special. It was a lovely house beforehand – don’t get me wrong – but now it’s a super house in terms of its look and feel,” Rick said.
The Hopkinsons have also sprinkled their magic on the house, including adding an inground pool. Rick said they chose the angular shape to complement Hay’s work.
The current owners installed a pool that had the same shape as the Art Deco-inspired extension. Photo / Supplied
Rick said the house had hidden delights. When his children were young, they enjoyed playing buses in the lounge and used to press a “push switch” in the room to make the bus stop.
They had been playing the game for about a year when a next-door neighbour told them that whenever the kids pushed the button, a bell would ring in their scullery (the neighbour’s home was originally used as Husheer’s servants quarters).
“It really connects the houses. I think the people that own that servants’ house still have the scullery with the bells in there, but they don’t actually ring anymore,” Rick said.
The National Tobacco Company building in Ahuriri, also built by Husheer and designed by architect Louis Hay, is one of the country’s standout Art Deco buildings. Photo / Supplied
“It really just tells a story over so many generations. We’ve now lived here for 35 years and embraced it.”
New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty agent Neal Andersen said the home would suit families who wanted to be in zone for some of the city’s best schools.
Andersen said Bluff Hill was where many of Napier’s landed gentry and successful businessmen built their mansions. “There’s been this history of well-to-do people – they wanted to be well above and elevated and they wanted views and they wanted the sea breeze because it’s so hot.”
Even 100 years on, having a Buff Hill address still carries weight in the city. “If you say you live on Bluff Hill or Hospital Hill, there’s a certain prestige that comes with that.”
- 14 Elizabeth Road, in Bluff Hill, Napier, is for sale by negotiation
