Southern Hawkes Bay: Family values

Having housed generation upon generation of the same family, this awesome Victorian homestead is full of history and in fabulous condition. By VICKI HOLDER.

A symbol of an affluent farming era long passed, Akitio Station in the southern Hawkes Bay recalls memories of a privileged life.

About 75km south-east of Dannevirke, the property overlooks the Akitio River and is less than 1km from the beach.

The owners are spoilt with a host of recreational activities on offer, including boating, fishing, surf-casting, surfing, jet-skiing, water-skiing, hunting and horse-riding.

The park-like grounds separate the homestead from the outside world. It is attached to a 3600ha station owned by Edwyn and Jenny Kight. Edwyn is the fifth generation of his family to have farmed at Akitio, and the fourth generation to live in the homestead.

Although by today's standards Akitio Station is large, when the original owner bought the property in 1876 its land holding was considerably larger. James Armstrong came from Australia and bought the original bungalow and 10,367ha for a mere $29,000. After four years he had acquired an additional 21,280ha of land from neighbours. Sadly, however, the fairytale ended there after he drowned while crossing cattle at the river mouth.

The estate was auctioned in 1881 and run by a manager until Armstrong's son, Francis, took charge. He and his wife, Margaret, built the present homestead out of native timber, all except for the concrete foundation.

The building is still in excellent condition, and it has always functioned as an active family home. Not only does it offer exceptional joinery, the building also has individually crafted pressed tin ceilings, which were made in Sydney and installed by craftsmen. The ceiling in each room has its own pattern.

The Italian ceramic tiled terraces at the front entrance and on the river side of the building are another feature of the house. The pattern is the same as the one on the Old Bank Building on the corner of Lambton Quay and Willis St in Wellington, which is now retail space.

Oozing old-world charm, Akitio is an elegant Victorian home designed to take full advantage of its beautiful, serene surroundings that complement the style and scale of the building.

As well as the 100-year-old trees, recent plantings reflect Jenny and her mother-in-law's enthusiasm for gardening. Extensive garden beds are planted for scent and colour, and an enormous rose bed adjacent to the driveway provides an endless source of blooms for flower arranging. The vegetable garden is vast and keeps the family in fresh produce all year round.

Social activities have always been part of the Akitio lifestyle. The expansive grounds incorporate two grass tennis courts, while long and deep, the large in-ground swimming pool has hosted many fun competitions. The filter shed roof doubles as a diving board for the children.

Inside, the hallway carpet is tacked at the doorways and rolls back to reveal a perfect ballroom. The drawing, living and billiard rooms radiate from the hallway, offering a seamless transition between the entertainment areas and ideally suited for large social functions.

The billiard room sports a full-size table. On the walls are original artworks by WA Bowring, well-known for his caricatures of local identities. A large fireplace warms one end of the room and the other opens to a small terrace overlooking the swimming pool - a popular spot in summer.

In addition to the entertaining areas there are 10 bedrooms, three bathrooms, formal dining and a large kitchen. The splendid utility rooms include the "boot room" for storing sporting equipment and clothing. This leads into a large office, which has a safe and a fireplace. A very quiet part of the house, it could double as a library.

The oldest building on the property is the woolshed, built in the 1880s. It's one of three that were built at the same time to a similar design. Other buildings include a garden shed, wood shed, four-car garaging, mower shed, storage sheds and an ivy-covered, double-bricked dairy. Built over a 90,000lt fresh water tank, the dairy is useful for storing meat, milk and produce and would make an ideal wine cellar.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: River Road, Akito.

FEATURES: Victorian homestead in excellent order in park-like grounds; 10 bedrooms; three bathrooms; five toilets; drawing rooms and entrance hall; separate dining; large kitchen and cloakroom; office with safe; billiard room; living TV room; pressed tin and vaulted ceilings; leadlight windows; tennis court; croquet lawn; gazebo; swimming pool; four-car garage; utility sheds; brick dairy; water tank; zoned rural.

SIZE: Floor area 363sq m plus 83sq m of veranda; land area 2.175ha.

AUCTION: 2pm, February 12, at Bayleys Maritime Square auction rooms.

AGENTS: Glyn Rees-Jones and John Bayley, Bayleys Real Estate. Ph Glyn 06 834 4080 bus; 027 496 3020 mob; John 309 6020 bus; 021 926 910 mob.