A family connection to Gore Bay, North Canterbury is set to come to an end after 120 years.
In the early 20th century Judy Grigor’s grandfather Edmund Wilkinson owned a Heathcote Valley orchard and lectured at what was then Lincoln College. He also had a role inspecting school gardens throughout Canterbury.
“He was inspecting a school garden locally and found out that this Gore Bay property, Jed Vale, was for sale. He bought it on the spot, then went back to Heathcote and told his wife and five children that they were moving.
“They weren’t too pleased, though had no choice. He went on to set up a market garden on the property. In the First World War, because he was in a reserved occupation he wasn’t conscripted. However, straight after the war he died during the global influenza epidemic, which left my father, the oldest son, to take over the family market garden business at age 15,” says Judy.
Judy’s widowed grandmother became a teacher at Port Robinson Primary School, driving a horse and cart along Gore Bay’s steep and winding coastal roads to and from work each day.
By the time Judy was born, Gore Bay had its own school, built in 1929, where she was a pupil from 1943 to 1948.
When Judy left school, she became a teacher herself, teaching high school maths in various parts of the country, and marrying John, initially a chemistry teacher, later a school principal.
When she and John were teaching in Tauranga in the early 1990s, they would hook up the caravan each summer holiday to return to Gore Bay with their young family.
“By that time the local primary school was no longer used and the schoolhouse was offered for sale. We thought it would be more convenient for our holidays than the caravan, so we made an offer.
The only other buyer planned to use it for firewood, so we bought it for $500 and relocated it to what was then my father’s property,” says Judy.
A few years later the couple retired to Gore Bay and built their retirement home. When John died in 1999, Judy stayed put. Inheriting a love of plants from her father and grandfather, she has spent much of her time since nurturing the garden, which thrives in Gore Bay’s microclimate.
“Plenty of interesting trees and shrubs grow here, including fruit trees such as persimmon, passionfruit, figs, stone and pipfruit, all the citrus trees you could name including sweet and juicy oranges, macadamia nuts and tamarillos.
“I’m particularly proud of the tecomanthe vine, discovered in 1945 by botanists visiting Three Kings Islands. They found just one specimen and brought cuttings back to Auckland to propagate, then offered limited numbers to the public to see how they would go. When John and I applied for one, we were told it would die this far south. However, when we told them what else grows here, they reluctantly gave us one, asking us to send a photo each year until it died. Eight years later, by then in full flower on a huge, tangled vine, we gave up sending photos. It flowers through late winter, a cluster of flowers that look like fingers straight out of the vine, with no stem or stalk, and it’s still doing well, rambling over four or five metres up the surrounding trees nearly 30 years later.”
Such growing conditions also support plenty of bird life. Judy reports a large kereru flock, bellbirds, tui in increasing numbers, quail and one cock pheasant.
Meanwhile the old school stands firm, retaining its original chalkboard and hooks for school bags, reconfigured with living space, kitchen area, log fire, bathroom and two bedroom spaces.
Although reluctant to leave after such a long time, Judy is realistic, so has engaged Ruby Burney and Maria Rickerby of PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Amberley to sell the 1.73-hectare property, which is on two titles, seven kilometres southeast of Cheviot and 99 kilometres north of Rangiora. Ruby describes it as an idyllic retreat.
“An elevated property that makes the most of the space, the warm and cosy two double bedroom house, with its open-plan design and high-pitched ceilings, is a peaceful haven with so much on offer to live the good life, enjoying the garden, the views and the ocean.
“Creating a real sun trap year-round, the house opens to a spacious, partially covered deck with stunning garden views, perfectly positioned to enjoy any time of the day, while the hedges create privacy, peace, and shelter.
“A few steps away, the relocated schoolhouse is filled with charm and character, offering potential revenue as guest accommodation, as a longer-term rental, or for family visits,” says Ruby.
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