Historic home for sale on widely admired North Canterbury farm

One of North Canterbury’s most notable historic country homes, located on one of the region’s most admired farms, is for sale.

Claremont, a Georgian-style house built in 1866 from locally hand cut limestone blocks is the homestead for a 362 hectare sheep, cattle and deer breeding and finishing farm 17 kilometres north west of Amberley and 63 kilometres north of central Christchurch. Peter Crean and John Davison of PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Christchurch are offering the homestead to the market, either with or without the farm.

Peter says individually both Claremont farm and homestead rank as genuine trophy properties, and in combination present the right purchaser with a truly unique prospect.

“Within the Waipara wine region close to Christchurch, Claremont serves as a sanctuary, though offers multiple layers of opportunity to a new owner. Unlike timber-framed stone-façade buildings typical of its period, Claremont adheres to classic Mediterranean mortar-bound double skin construction techniques, proven over two millennia.

“Lacking for nothing in terms of luxury, the homestead is an approximately 587 square metre building extensively recently refurbished to the highest aesthetic and structural standards, therefore combining all the benefits of modernity with period detailing, ensuring no compromise to its grand legacy. Set in lovingly manicured grounds on a 4.95 hectare title, it comprises six large bedrooms, five with ensuite; three living rooms; shaded verandas; and extensive cobbled courtyards and a separate 100 square metre four-car garage. As a further option, purchasers may also acquire one or both of two adjacent similar sized land titles. 

“Trading as Claremont Country Estate, in the decade preceding 2012 the homestead operated as an intimate five-star luxury lodge, categorised alongside the likes of Huka Lodge, Blanket Bay and Kauri Cliffs. During this period Claremont was twice nominated in the World Tourism Awards, also featuring in the Harper Hideaway Report, the United States’ most prestigious hospitality and tourism journal, as New Zealand Grand Award winner. While Claremont Country Estate ceased trading ten years ago, returning the homestead to its primary function as a family sanctuary, a new owner could easily re-initiate the exclusive tourism business,” he says.

In addition to the homestead, the property is complemented by an approximately 115 square metre three-bedroom, two-bathroom caretaker’s cottage. Built in 2004, the cottage is fully insulated, double glazed, and has four heat pumps.

According to Peter, Claremont’s livestock production is widely renowned.

“This is one of the district’s most admired farms, and has been for many decades.

“Farm infrastructure includes a four-stand woolshed, covered yards, and separate sheep and cattle yards, plus may other quality utility buildings, excellent paddock subdivision and access laneways. In place for 14 years, the current lessee is available to continue husbanding this superlative farm, should that be the new owner’s preferred option.”

As well as being one of North Canterbury’s best performing commercial livestock properties, Claremont has additional development potential.

Claremont’s high lime levels will suit viticulture and truffles. Among New Zealand’s first commercial truffieres, Claremont’s was established during the mid-1990s, and last year produced the Southern Hemisphere’s largest ever truffle at just under 1.5 kilograms. Meanwhile a pilot Pinot Noir vineyard was planted recently. Although neither of these is offered with this sale, expansion into viticulture, truffles, or both, would offer revenue diversification with minimal impact on the existing farm. Olives are another opportunity,” says Peter.

Bounded by 7.25 kilometres of the Waipara River, including the outstanding natural beauty of Waipara Gorge, Claremont’s geology gives rise to additional splendours.

“A dramatic limestone escarpment with a 90 metre drop-off runs through the property. This incorporates a natural rock sculpture that has the profile of a face with a mitre hat, so is known as Bishop’s Head rock. At 45 metres high, Bishop’s Head compares to the presidents’ heads at Mt Rushmore, which are less than 20 metres high.

“Also within the river are numerous rocks akin to the Moeraki Boulders. These are nicknamed locally as God’s Marbles, and in the past several hundred were extracted and shipped to museums around the world. There are half dozen at the entrance to the Auckland Domain. In 2004 one of these boulders was found naturally broken open, and contained the complete fossilised head of a mosasaur,” says Peter.

Adding yet another dimension, still more remarkable secrets lie beneath the farm.

“A limestone seam through the property contains one of New Zealand’s richest deposits of cretaceous material, a 70 million year-old fossil lode including plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, 16 species of pre-historic shark, the world’s oldest, largest and smallest penguins and the KT boundary, evidence of the meteor dust that enveloped the world to cause the extinction of the dinosaurs.

“For that reason, of course, Claremont is highly regarded by palaeontologists,” he says.

Claremont includes several blocks of forestry. In addition to an artificial lagoon complete with an island, numerous other regeneration opportunities will abound for a purchaser seeking to enhance Claremont.

In addition, under the Hurunui District Plan Claremont’s new owner would be permitted to establish lifestyle block subdivisions of four hectares or larger, possibly facilitating a farm park residential model for rural lifestyle development, involving several small housing clusters on easy care sections with communal ownership of farmland under a manager or tenant farmer.

With so many different dimensions, the property will make certain demands on a new owner, though will repay those handsomely.

“Our vendor purchased Claremont in 1997, which is the only time it has changed hands in four generations. In his view, to acquire a ‘trophy’ property such as this doesn’t make you its owner: more accurately you become the property’s custodian. Anyone who brings that philosophy will benefit immensely in taking on Claremont,” says Peter.

Claremont is for sale by deadline private treaty, with offers sought by 2 pm on Friday 25 November 2022.