Set in a rural landscape, Fernside is a spacious and historic country house surrounded by approximately 12 acres of vibrant and varied gardens. The house is set down a 1.8km driveway amongst farmland, yet close enough to services for easy access to shops and transport.
Fernside is arguably one of the finest heritage country estates in New Zealand with one of the best private gardens in the country.
Features
- Main house 900m2 (more or less) – 3 generous reception rooms, 4 bedrooms with ensuite
- Total land size 11.6291 hectares (more or less)
- Magnificent gardens covering approximately 4.8 Hectares (more or less)
- Private lake used as a location in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy
- Cottage 200m2 (more or less)
- Numerous outbuildings
- 3 car garaging
- Private and secluded position
- Short drive to shops and main transport links
Main House
Fernside is a generous and luxurious white-weatherboard slate-roofed Neo-Georgian style house with an L-shaped plan designed to be an elegant retreat for a wealthy family. Many of the original features still remain such as the servant bells.
Ground Floor
Starting at the grand entrance the hallway leads to the three main reception rooms – a light and spacious drawing room with sunroom and extensive balustrade terrace, to an elegant formal dining room and large library/lounge.
Domestic offices include a flower room, lift, wine cellar, utility room, powder room, chef’s kitchen and pantry, scullery, office, laundry, boiler room, wood store, and boot room.
First Floor
Spacious and elegant master bedroom suite with bathroom and walk in robe, spacious second bedroom suite with original bathroom and dressing room, spacious third bedroom suite with original bathroom, fourth bedroom suite with original bathroom, fifth bedroom with separate bathroom, large lobby area.
Three further bedrooms in staff wing with bathroom, box room, linen and storage cupboards.
Construction
High quality traditional materials have been used throughout including Welsh slate roof, copper flat roofs, cast iron spouting, heart rimu weatherboards, solid concrete ring foundations, as well as oak and jarrah floorboards.
Gardens of national significance
Restored to the original design of the Arts and Crafts style garden with garden rooms, these extensive and magnificent gardens begin with a formal entrance courtyard with central fountain surrounded by white carpet roses and box hedging.
This leads through a wrought iron gate to the restored Mercury garden consisting of roses and box hedging. Adjoining is a lawn area with original table and seat next to the Lutyens style goldfish pond. The extensive main lawn is situated outside the Drawing Room terrace and is suitable for playing croquet or bowls.
Beyond the main lawn lies the Fernside lake used in the Lord of the Rings films.
Other garden areas include a chess garden, herbaceous borders, tennis court garden, a scented walk, woodland, daffodil paddock, bluebell glade, oak lawn, rill with sound shell and pumphouse, glasshouses (in need of restoration), a Secret Garden containing a Summerhouse and entertainment area, knot garden with roses, a Victorian sunken garden, a native garden with stream. Many of the original Victorian garden features still remain.
A common theme running through the gardens are the naturalised hellebores, bluebells, giant Himalayan lilies, as well as rhododendrons, maples, magnolias and dogwoods. The woodland areas contain mature oaks, cedars, elms, ash, liquidambars, poplars, eucalypts, beech, linden, chestnut, weeping willow. Many of the trees are well over 100 years old.
A productive garden
The orchard is well developed and produces varieties of apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, plums, feijoas, figs, persimmons, avocados, lemons, grapefruit, limes, mandarins, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, mulberries and medlars.
The kitchen garden produces strawberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, red currants, gooseberries, raspberries, kiwifruit and boysenberries.
All food and garden waste is recycled and the garden produces much of its own compost.
“The Gatehouse”
Originally the coach house and stable, this spacious converted cottage offers superb guest or staff accommodation over two floors. It can also be used as a holiday let.
There is a large open plan dining/lounge area, fully fitted kitchen, laundry, two double bedrooms, bathroom and toilet on the ground floor.
The romantic master bedroom with ensuite bathroom is situated upstairs in the old hay loft. There are two decks to catch all day sun. Keeping the occupants cosy in the winter is a woodburner attached to 3 radiators.
Outbuildings
- Newly built three car garage and workshop, with large storage area in loft. Includes staffroom and toilet and 70,000 li. concrete water tank underneath.
- Wood workshop, originally a two-car garage. It includes a garden implement shed, chemical store and general storage area.
- Newly built large four bay implement shed housing tractor, truck, ride-on mower and gator.
- Large four bay woodshed.
A brief history
The Fernside estate in South Wairarapa came into being in 1860 and originally consisted of 2,300 acres. It was developed into a substantial homestead by Charles and Ella Elgar between 1890 and 1930. As one of the “runholders” the Elgars held a high position in society and entertained widely. The Elgars also travelled widely and brought many external influences into the design of the house and garden. The original homestead burnt down in 1923 and the current Georgian style mansion dates from 1924. Heathcote Helmore, a pupil of Lutyens, was the principal architect.
After Ella’s death in 1945, Fernside was purchased by the US Ambassador to NZ Robert Scotten as the ambassador’s residence. The US embassy held many garden parties at Fernside to host and entertain local and foreign dignatories.
On their departure in 1955, Fernside passed into the hands of several owners during which it sadly fell into decline. In 1999 the lake area with its mature trees was used in several scenes in the filming of Lord of the Rings trilogy.
The current owners bought the property in 2007 and set about an ambitious program of restoration for both the house and the gardens. The property has now been restored to its former grandeur and condition.
The local area
The Wairarapa region is predominantly rural, dotted with a number of small towns, with a regional centre in Masterton.
The town closest to Fernside is Featherston which is a thriving small town with many essential services and has established itself as one of the main book capitals of New Zealand.
About 15 minutes drive from the homestead is the historic town of Greytown featuring numerous building dating back to the earliest times of New Zealand’s colonial past. Mixed in with these historic building are coffee shops, antique shops and high-end clothing shops.
Martinborough is about 20 minutes drive and one of the centres of the thriving New Zealand wine industry boasting a number of world leading vineyards specialising in pinot noir.
Transport links
The main train link is from the Featherston railway station and the journey to Wellington takes approximately 60 minutes.
Masterton airport is a 30-minute drive away and has facilities for private aircraft. A scheduled service to Auckland is being discussed. Wellington airport is about 1 hour 30 minutes drive (depending on traffic) and offers direct services to most airports in New Zealand as well as international services with direct flights to Australia and Singapore.
Notes
The property comes with an extensive list of chattels mainly to enable the gardens to be maintained. Additional chattels are available for purchase separately.
A full information pack is available on request.
Disclaimer
PQ Property Intelligence Limited and their clients give notice that:
1. They have no authority to make or give any representations or warranties in relation to the property. These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact.
2. Any areas, measurements or distances are approximate. The text, photographs and plans are for guidance only and are not necessarily comprehensive. It should not be assumed that the property has all necessary planning, building regulation or other consents and PQ Property Intelligence have not tested any services, equipment or facilities. Purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise. Brochure prepared: April 2021. Photographs taken: April 2021.
Viewing is by appointment only.
For more information contact Anthony Morsinkhof.
Telephone + 64 (0) 2101017524.
Email: [email protected].
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