- A historic villa in Lawrence, once owned by composer John Joseph Woods, is for sale.
- The three-bedroom home retains original features and was bought in 1990 for under $50,000.
- Interest in the Lawrence market is growing, with similar homes selling in the mid-$700,000s.
A double-brick villa once owned by the composer of New Zealand’s national anthem has been listed for sale for the first time in over 30 years.
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The three-bedroom house at 17 Lancaster Street, in Lawrence, Clutha, was built in the early 1900s by local teacher and choirmaster John Joseph Woods.
Woods made musical history when he entered a competition in 1876 to set “God Defend New Zealand”, a poem by Thomas Bracken, to music. The tune was an instant hit and was adopted as the national anthem a few years later.
Ray White agent listing Megan Young, who jokes in her listing that Woods’ house is going for a song, told OneRoof that the property filled her with pride.
The All Blacks sing the national anthem at Eden Park. The music was composed by choirmaster John Joseph Woods in the 1870s. Photo / Getty Images
Woods’ luxury villa was built in the early 1900s. Some of the original features still survive. Photo / Supplied
“It is so Kiwi. It embraces everything patriotic about being a Kiwi. I feel like that when I am at the property,” she said.
She said that her clients had preserved the house’s character and beauty since buying it in 1990 for just under $50,000.
Unlike some colonial homes, many of the original features have survived, including the fireplaces and the kitchen coal range. There is even a maid button on the front door for visitors (Woods had a live-in maid and gardener).
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Lawrence was a wealthy town when the home was built, and Woods’ standing was reflected in the “modern conveniences” his home boasted, including a bathroom and a scullery. Each had “the latest improved taps ...[and] large china washbasins”, Heritage New Zealand notes in its description of the property, dubbed “Anthem House”.
Vendors Jill and Graham Wallace were living in Queenstown when they spotted a listing for the house. “We were at a bit of a crossroads, and we spotted an ad in the paper.” They initially thought the $44,000 price tag was missing a digit, but they pounced anyway.
At that time, the home needed a lot of upgrading. There was a hole in the kitchen big enough for the cat to get through, and the toilet was at risk of falling through the floorboards.
The owners bought the heritage property in 1990 for just under $50,000. Photo / Supplied
The property sits on over 2000sqm and boasts a beautiful garden. Photo / Supplied
Over the years, the Wallaces have created a woodland on the property, keeping Woods’ prized European Fan Palm.
In the early years of their tenure, some of the oldest residents of Lawrence remembered JJ Woods, his home, and his beloved garden. “He was real keen on daffodils. He had hundreds planted,” Jill told OneRoof.
“One of the old guys who lived in the neighbourhood said, ‘When we were kids, we came round one night and we changed all the labels around on the daffodils’.”
The couple told OneRoof they were selling up to move closer to family.
Also on the market in Lawrence, at 10 Lancaster Street, is the town’s old police quarters. Photo / Supplied
Young told OneRoof that the Lawrence market had been quiet over the winter, but interest was picking up. “We have had a few sections selling. The 1970s and 1890s-style homes have sold around the $380,000 to mid-fours range. That’s for a standard three-bedroom home.
“These older [colonial] properties are in the mid-$700,000s. We also have the old jailhouse for sale at 10 Lancaster Street.”
That five-bedroom home started life as police quarters and includes a jailhouse, which was turned into a separate self-contained unit.
Young said enquiries were largely from the Otago region, although she had some interest from the North Island. Earlier this year, Marama Lodge on Sowerby Street, Lawrence, sold to a Wellington couple for $1.225m, setting a town record.
- 17 Lancaster Street, Lawrence, Clutha, is for sale by negotiation
