History lives on - Western Springs

A home built almost 130 years ago is still going strong as a boutique B&B.

Hastings Hall, 99 Western Springs Road, Western Springs.

The gracious house on the brow of Western Springs Road was there long before its neighbours, the motorway, Motat or the speedway.

Called Hastings Hall, it was built in 1878 by businessman William Motion who owned a flour mill on the land that is now Western Springs Park. It's not quite known how the house came by its moniker.

Current Hastings Hall owner Malcolm Martel has an old photo which shows the flour mill in the foreground, with the house in the distance.

It looks out over green fields and dirt tracks, with no other houses to be seen. He has another photo too, showing a 1910 bridal party posing on the impressive sweep of entrance steps.

Malcolm says he loves the home's sense of history and wonders about the lives of all the people who have lived there. He's not alone in that though.

In the four years he's owned the property he's had contact from eight people whose families have lived there, including the grand-daughter of the bride in the photo.

The most recent owners before Malcolm were businessman Ray Mills and his wife Lucy, who lived in the house for 16 years.

``Ray and Lucy renovated it quite extensively. I believe it was split into four flats before then,'' Malcolm says.

While the Mills family enjoyed Hastings Hall as a family home, Malcolm has used the 10-bedroom, eight-bathroom property as a boutique bed and breakfast accommodation business. He is selling it as a going concern.

When Malcolm bought Hastings Hall he spent nine months refurbishing it, including new marble bathrooms and converting a separate, smaller building into accommodation and an office.

Now called `The Stables', it has five guest rooms, as well as a guest lounge and bar, complete with club-style Chesterfield sofas. The two-storey main homestead has five bedrooms, including the impressive Sir William suite, which has its own sitting room.

Malcolm decorated all guest rooms to have their own look and was well-resourced to do so as he used to own a furniture and collectibles business called Martel Traders.

The kitchen, dining room and a spacious conservatory are on the homestead's lower level.

The elegant dining room is where guests eat breakfast and is also used for functions and small conferences. Malcolm trained as a chef, with stints at Oblio's in Ponsonby and Windross House in Cockle Bay, but says he doesn't do all the catering himself.

Outside, there are numerous places to sit - poolside, in a gazebo, on the main homestead's return verandah, or on patios shaded by trees.

Many of the home's original retaining walls and pavers were uncovered during the renovation and Malcolm has made them a feature. At 2147m2, the site is enormous. There is still potential to build a studio or landscape the most northern part of the property.

People from all over the world have stayed at Hastings Hall, which has a Qualmark four-star rating. ``Nobody famous though, as far as I can recall,'' Malcolm says.

Clientele is a mixture of business people, mostly from Australia, as well as holidaymakers from the United States and Britain. New Zealanders from out of town often stay regularly, as well as bridal couples. Each room has its own direct dial and broadband access, as well as an unlimited hot water supply.

It's a wrench, but Malcolm has decided to sell to spend more time with family in the Channel Islands. While Hastings Hall would make a spectacular home for a family, he says he would love to see it remain as accommodation. ``That way I could come back and stay here.''

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 10

BATHROOMS: 8

GARAGES: 0*

SIZE: Land 2147sq m, house and secondary dwelling 550sq m (approx).
PRICE INDICATION: Interest in excess of $2.5 million. Tender closes October 17.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 12-12.45pm.

ON THE WEB: www.open2view.com # 136877; www.rwkingsland.co.nz # KGL10050.

CONTACT: Lesley Hawes and Ruth Hawes, Ray White Kingsland, ph 815 9008 bus, Lesley 021 482 799, Ruth 021 482797.

FEATURES: Landmark Western Springs property being sold as a bed and breakfast going concern. Fully furnished with high quality fittings. Swimming pool, landscaped and with potential to improve part of the garden.

* No garaging but offstreet parking for eight cars.