This elegant Christchurch property is widely lauded as the historically significant homestead from which Kate Sheppard worked tirelessly to win the vote for New Zealand women.
And it has lived up to its historical origins – forming the base of a business for another resourceful New Zealand woman, current owner Julia Burbury.
When the earthquake damaged several Christchurch venues, the beauty of this property saw folk seeking it out for weddings and other functions. Council cooperated by granting consent for Burbury to run it as a business for more than three years.
She is now selling the property coinciding with the 125-year anniversary of the legislative change which gave women the vote – but explains she didn't always realise the history behind the house.
Burbury, who has lived here for 33 years, says: "We simply had no idea it had been Kate Sheppard's home when we bought here in 1985. I don't think the previous owners knew either as there was nothing on the title.
"So when my ex-husband and I bought here, I was just thinking, 'Ooh, a villa on big, private, central grounds where I can establish a lovely garden.
"Now I feel so fortunate to have owned her home. But frankly when the council told us eight years after we'd bought it was Kate Sheppard's home, I initially thought 'who's Kate Sheppard?' because in my day we learnt only English history at school.'"
Sheppard and her husband had the symmetrical kauri villa built for them, living there from 1888 to 1902. Her key work at the house to gain women's suffrage included meeting important figures, writing speeches, articles and pamphlets and compiling her influential 32,000 strong petition on a 270m bolt of wallpaper rolled around the end of a broom handle.
The petition influenced the signing 125 years ago this year, on 19 September 1893, of law making New Zealand the first self-governing country giving all women the right to vote in parliamentary elections.
Burbury was in awe of Sheppard as she learned more about her while reinvigorating the villa and its grounds into the four-bedroom luxury household in beautiful gardens found today.
She says: "It's such a serene, wonderful place and everything has been done so someone can just move in and enjoy it straight away."
The 4,321sq m Ilam property minutes from the central city and Hagley Park is near the University of Canterbury, 200m from Medbury School and zoned for Christchurch Boys and Christchurch Girls High.
The property has obvious family appeal but may attract an entrepreneur seeking a superior venue or boutique accommodation or an organisation which values its historic significance.
The retreat-like grounds behind a macrocarpa hedge and boundary trees cosset both an all-weather tennis court which has housed marquees and a solar-heated swimming pool. There's also an artesian well with laboratory-tested water suitable for drinking.
The fully renovated kauri weatherboard villa has predominantly slate roofing with iron roofing, while a Warren and Mahoney-designed extension delivers open-plan living.
The heritage listed home has a 3.6m stud and windows and verandahs admiring beautifully planted, irrigated grounds once featured by Maggie Barry. Character features include fireplaces, plaster ceiling roses and bay windows.
A formal lounge and dining room-lounge are first off the wide central hallway. There's more living in the sunny rear kitchen-dining-living expanse, bolstered by an additional informal living room. Four picturesque bedrooms, two of them with ensuites and the others accessing a family bathroom, provide history old and new.
A light-filled bedroom which will soon admire wisteria blooming along one of twin verandahs outside is believed to have been used by Sheppard's son, Douglas. The guest bedroom is today known as the "Bride's Room" having served as a dressing room with ensuite for weddings in the grounds.
Burbury is in her late 60s and thinks the time is right to "hand the baton on", while she and partner Derek relocate an hour out of Nelson.
For more information: Laurie Sutton m 027 260 7782, laurie.sutton@harcourts.co.nz or Martin Sutton m 027 325 1221, martin.sutton@harcourts.co.nz; Harcourts Holmwood.