- A historic Hawke’s Bay mansion that’s been in the same family for over 60 years is for sale.
- Restored by Julie and Rodney Appleton-Seymour, the property features five bedrooms, a tennis court and a pool.
- The mansion has attracted the interest of Auckland and Christchurch buyers.
A Hawke’s Bay mansion that’s been owned by the same family for over 60 years has hit the market for sale.
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Known locally as “Strathmore”, the historic home 7A Limbrick Street, in Waipawa, was built in 1912 and sits on a 5177sqm section with its own tennis court and swimming pool.
The vendor’s late parents saved the property from ruin when they bought it in 1964. It was in a derelict state, having been abandoned by its former owners many years prior.
Julie and Rodney Appleton-Seymour slowly restored the five-bedroom mansion to its former glory while raising their family.
The vendor’s late parents restored the mansion after it had been left to rot by its previous owners. Photo / Supplied
Julie and Rodney Appleton-Seymour with their family at Strathmore. Photo / Supplied
Tremains real estate agent Kathie Davies told OneRoof that the property was one of the best in Waipawa and certainly the grandest, noting that it was steeped in history. “There are beautiful old trees in the grounds,” she said.
She said that the home had been restored sympathetically, “with a bit of a modern slant”. The interiors had benefitted from a considerable amount of panelling work, and some reconfigurations. The family had turned the scullery into the kitchen and the ballroom into a games room and lounge.
Outside the tin shed became a makeshift tennis clubhouse. “It has a fridge and space for drinks,” Davies said.
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The home has an RV of $820,000, but Davies said the RV was irrelevant. “No other houses compare. RVs are for rates, not for market value.”
Davies said the mansion had attracted significant interest, with potential buyers from Auckland and Christchurch booking flights to view the home this weekend. “One’s looking at doing Airbnb. The other is originally from Hawke’s Bay and wants to return,” she told OneRoof.
“It’s a magnificent property. Someone will absolutely fall in love with it. There aren’t many homes like this left. Most have fallen into disrepair.”
The property is one of the last stately homes still standing in Waipawa. Photo / Supplied
Davies told OneRoof that the land originally belonged to Waipawa’s founding father, Frederick Abbott. “It had over 9000 acres in 1851, and they ran 2000 sheep on it.”
Early settler William Rathbone bought the property from Abbott in the second half of the 19th century, and his son built Strathmore in 1912.
“Unfortunately, in 1931, the earthquake caused a lot of damage. The roof caved in,” said Davies. “The Rathbones vacated the house, and never, ever went back to it.”
Davies said that according to Callum Appleton-Seymour, the current owner, there was grass growing through the building and no roof when his parents bought it.
- 7A Limbrick Street, Waipawa, Central Hawke's Bay, is for sale, tender closing October 29
