Her mother had always talked about building a home at the top of a hill on the estate but died too early to fulfil the dream - "So I did," Vivienne says.
Vivienne and Barry wanted a home that would drink in the scenery, provide easy living and entertaining options, and comfortably accommodate visiting family.
But at the top of Vivienne's wish-list was a big laundry that would satisfy the dedicated gardener in her. She was so determined that she fired her first architect when he presented plans with a laundry crammed into the kitchen.
They then hired Terry Hitchcock, who had earlier designed a beach house for them, and Vivienne got her large laundry. The couple also got a large, open-plan lounge and dining room - which forms the hub of the cedar home and features picture windows - plus a separate kitchen and smaller lounge. The home opens up to the east and west, which makes it ideal for entertaining.
As well as two bedrooms upstairs, including the master, there is a guest suite downstairs - designed with the children and grandchildren in mind - with a double and single bedroom, a bathroom and a small lounge that opens to the rear of the property.
With the house taken care of, the couple painstakingly transformed the land from a sheep paddock to a landscaped garden and verdant orchard "with every fruit tree you can think of".
Vivienne says: "It's a lovely spot to live. It's the peace and quiet, especially on a beautiful still day, and the birdlife is wonderful."
But she says the time is right to move back to the city. Adds Barry: "I'm getting to the age and stage that a little bit of level ground and not too far to walk to the cafes might be a good idea."
For the first time in her life, Vivienne will not be able to call this patch of land her home. However, she will still be able to connect with her family history.
In 1993, she and her sister, Yvonne Hollier, gave to the Forest & Bird society a 19ha tract of native bush neighbouring the property. Called the Colin Kerr-Taylor Memorial Reserve (after her father), it was part of the original family land and is where her parents' ashes are buried. There's even a walking track named after her.
"It's quite an emotional tear, really [to leave this house]," says Vivienne, "but it's got to the stage that it's time to go."
