Perched atop the Cashmere hillside with arguably one of the best views over Christchurch, a stately heritage mansion, which once served as a boarding school, boutique hotel, wedding venue and upmarket accommodation for the elderly, has been placed back on the market for sale.

Attracting international attention as one of the ‘most viewed’ residential listings last year, Bayleys Christchurch salesperson Jo Grams has reintroduced the property to the market following pandemic disruption and substantial refurbishments, which offer limitless potential for its use as a palatial private residence or business opportunity.

Set on sprawling grounds of 4,032sqm (more or less) surrounded by established trees and flourishing planted borders, the aptly named ‘Hackthorne Gardens’ features 11 ensuite bedrooms over three levels, including a study, commercial-grade kitchen and several living zones.

Grams says each bedroom features a north-facing vantage point, gaining remarkable views over the heritage homes of the Port Hills, the central city, the Southern Alps, and Kaikoura Ranges.

“Through stone pillars and the grand portico entrance, there are large entertaining areas, including dedicated dining rooms, a modern backlit bar and a substantial commercial-grade kitchen.

There are many rooms with flexible use options, while a self-contained apartment-style suite on the top floor boasts grandstand views of the city.

“On the lower level, there are five bedrooms, the laundry and plenty of storage, making this an excellent space for staff or families that seek privacy and separation,” she says.

Originally built in 1928 for the prominent lawyer and philanthropist Archibald Henry Anthony – whose name endures as a founding partner of one of New Zealand’s oldest legal firms Anthony Harper - the mansion at 141 Hackthorne Road spans a capacious 938sqm (more or less).

Anthony engaged renowned architect William Tengrove Senior to deliver a family home in the style of an ‘Englishman’s stately residence’, an aesthetic Grams says he and the subsequent remarkable attention to detail in finishings have achieved ten-fold.

“Entry through the grand entrance hall instantly transports you to the elegance of the ‘Roaring Twenties’ – where opulence is evident through the soaring staircase, rich crafted timbers and four stunning chandelier light fixtures.

“It is so rare to find a heritage home of such grandeur, maintained to the high standard of Hackthorne Gardens. It presents a truly inimitable opportunity for a new owner.

“The home is a fabulous example of shifting architectural appetites of the era – boasting a range of influences including Neo-Gregorian leaded-fanlights and Doric columns, as well as features borrowed from the Californian bungalow, evident in the large lead-light bay windows and exposed eaves.

Grams says the nonagenarian property has been painstakingly restored to the latest building standards, with no expense spared in a meticulous refurbishment which has retained the estate’s original character features and air of charm.

“While deemed culturally, historically and socially significant by the Christchurch City Council, Hackthorne Gardens does not have a restrictive heritage grading. This has allowed restorative works to proceed uninhibited and will mean a new owner can undertake future works to suit their vision as a business venture or private home.”

Previously operational as a hotel which took advantage of the sprawling grounds, 10 off-street car parks and expansive kitchen facilities, Grams says the property’s demonstrated commercial history is a natural opportunity for the new owner.

“International visitor numbers hit over one million for the first time since the onset of the pandemic in the year to August, and with our Kiwi summer only just beginning, Hackthorne Gardens is a fabulous opportunity for a new owner to maximise the property’s commercial use potential.

“This could include a wedding venue, boutique accommodation, restaurant, gallery space – or anything else they deem interesting, heralding a new era for this exceptional property.

“Alternatively, it is a truly unique chance to secure a fully restored heritage estate with a dress-circle view over Christchurch.”

Cashmere is located on the north side of the Port Hills, some five kilometres south of the city centre. Established as an aspirational suburb that benefits from nearby recreational amenities, the area has access to Victoria Park with its multiple biking and walking tracks. In addition to further tracks leading the length of the Port Hills.

Above Victoria Park is Sugarloaf, a 496m peak flanked by the Ōpāwaho-Heathcote River, which flows roughly along the base of the Port Hills – offering an abundance of local attractions for visitors and resident families.

Grams says the international enquiry has been strong and of interest in the property so far; several Auckland-based buyers are also considering their options.

“Domestically, I think Auckland residents, in particular, are seeing the bang for buck their money can get elsewhere and are exploring their options in a more flexible work era where lifestyle is front and centre,” she says.

Click here for more information on the listing.