Historic homestead plus 25ha on the market
Now for sale, Tipapa Estate was once part of one of North Canterbury’s large colonial sheep stations. Chris Hutching reports.
Tipapa Estate in Greta Valley, North Canterbury, is largely hidden from public view thanks to a long driveway and a big stand of mature trees.
That’s why most travellers on the main highway have never sighted the buildings on part of the historic Motunau Run, first settled in 1888 by a well-known landowner of the time, William Acton-Adams, a prominent lawyer and financier from Christchurch.
The 73-year-old current owner, John Carr, has operated the property just north of Waipara as an events centre since 2004 when he bought the former deer farm of about 200 hectares.
He sold the majority of the farmland, retaining 25ha and the large, stately timber house built in 1925 by Herbert Acton-Adams.
A major feature of the property is the 1890 woolshed where weddings and other functions are held. There is also guest accommodation in the house.
Carr upgraded and restored the buildings to preserve old features in the house and woolshed, including tally marks used by some of the last shearers from the 1960s. An Acton-Adams family crest remains in the entrance porch etched in marble.
Tipapa hosts more than 15 weddings most years, as well as corporate events and dinners that have included the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and New Zealand Opera. In 2017 Tipapa hosted the Scargill Flower Show.
Carr said he wanted the property to go to the ‘‘right’’ buyer who would appreciate its special characteristics and history.
All the sheep pens and woolshed apparatus remain in working order if a new owner wished to use them for farming purposes, he said.
The Heathcote Helmoredesigned Tipapa homestead has five large ensuite bedrooms and interconnecting living and entertainment areas opening onto the garden.
Next to the main woolshed, original stables and sheds have been converted into a gallery and office, plus a small cottage.
The 2004 refurbishment included rewiring, re-plumbing and new central heating.
Car said the property was equally suited to a private residence, working farm or an events centre.
It is being marketed by Shane O’Brien, national director of rural and agribusiness for Colliers International, who said the picturesque property would appeal to a range of buyers.
He said that with 670 square metres of high quality accommodation, Tipapa offered a discerning buyer a home that could equally be an upmarket lodge, exclusive B&B or commercial enterprise.
‘‘One of the great things is that it hasn’t been structurally altered, having been in the same family until 1965 and only having one other owner since then.’’