Early settler homestead for sale

ON THE MOVE: After a decade in his Eketahuna homestead, Bill Beetz is selling up to move to Tirau. PHOTOS/LYNDA FERINGA

A huge slice of Eketahuna history is on the market.

An original homestead built by early Scandinavian settler Anders Anderson in 1879 at 4 Alfredton Rd, now belonging to acclaimed artist and organ grinder Bill Beetz, is up for sale.

The house has added history attached to it in that a murder took place across the road in 1892 with the two men charged acquitted after three trials through lack of evidence.

The builder's grandson, Victor (Bill) Anderson, who was born in the house, served as Eketahuna's mayor 1959-1968.

Mr Beetz, 85, has lived in the large five-bedroom homestead for the past decade and is looking to move to Tirau to open a antique and collectable shop and to be closer to family through his retirement years.

He loves his home but says he needs to sell up to be able to move.

Mr Beetz has already dropped the price to entice buyers.

The home has original wood throughout with rimu floors, three fireplaces, a large "nostalgic" farm-house style kitchen, two living rooms with French doors leading outside to the garden, two bedrooms upstairs, three downstairs and a sleepout. Five paddocks, an orchard and large two-storey barn with workshop attached makes an ideal men's work place. A stable door at the entrance to the kitchen leading from a cobblestone courtyard, adds to the of character to the property.

There is an orchard with glasshouse for the keen gardener to potter around in.

It's been the ideal home for Mr Beetz, who describes himself as a "Jack of all trades".

"I looked all over the country and couldn't find anything. It was a big house with a big shed ... it's been my own place."

The history attached is a bonus. It sits on the heritage trail.

One of the biggest attractions along with the beauty of the homestead, is its closeness to the Eketahuna shopping centre and the local school; both only a "stone's throw away".

"It's an asset to this country. It was built by the first settlers and is still in it's original state. I just love the strength and structure of the house. It's got a big country kitchen which is big enough to live in. It's dry and it has character ... it's a perfect family home," he said.

"I wouldn't change it for anything else. It's my slice of heaven and will become someone else's paradise; someone else's perfect home."