Edwardian mansion and large estate set to break region’s record sale price

Tuesday, 11 June 2024

Acton House near Gisborne is likely to sell for more than $5million.

Acton Estate is likely to set a new sales record in Gisborne.

The nine-bedroom Edwardian mansion is on the market for the first time in 22 years.

The mansion sits on an 8.5hectare property just 6km from the city centre and is expected to sell for $5million.

An historic nine-bedroom Edwardian mansion on a large estate just a short distance from the city centre is set to break Gisborne house price records.

Acton House, built in 1907, is for sale for the first time in 22 years.

The mansion was owned by Juken timber magnate Toshio Nakamoto, who died in 2020. Nakamoto had forestry interests in Gisborne, Wairarapa, and Northland, and the mansion was used as a company retreat for many years. Juken (formerly Juken Nissho) ran a mill in Gisborne from 1994 until its closure last year.

The 740sqm Heritage NZ listed mansion sits on the 8.5hectare Acton Estate about 6km from Gisborne’s city centre.

The building, which was damaged and underwent a $1.4million re-strengthening after the 2007 Gisborne earthquake, features a large dining hall, billiards room, formal lounge, service lounge, office and a commercial standard kitchen. Included in the sale were 89 pieces of antique furniture.

The estate includes a tennis court, a golf hole (80m fairway), a standalone cottage, stables, specimen trees, heirloom orchard plantings and flower beds with several walkways.

Included in the sale of Acton Estate were 89 pieces of antique furniture.

The property is being sold by international tender closing July 11.

Estate agent handling the sale, Alan Thorpe, said it was expected to attract at least $5million, making it the most expensive house ever sold in Gisborne, far exceeding the previous record of $3.15m set in 2022.

Thorpe has a personal connection to the property. He and wife Jess lived in the mansion in a caretaker-type capacity in 2012.

Acton House includes a large dining hall, billiards room, formal lounge, service lounge, office and a commercial standard kitchen.

“We spent about a year in it before purchasing our house in town. It was pretty amazing,” he said.

“When you’re asked to describe this place it’s hard to know where to start. The size of the place, the native timbers and the quality of finishing throughout are phenomenal. To recreate that today you’d be looking at something $12,000 a square metre,” he said.

The mansion was built in 1907-1908 as the residence of Henry White (1858-1926), a wealthy farmer from Christchurch.

“There are other houses of this era in the region, but nothing of this size. It truly is a stunning place,” Thorpe said.

The property, still owned by Juken, was now surplus to requirements, he said.

“It’s probably going to appeal to a certain buyer. With its Category 1 heritage listing you’re really going to have to enjoy the interior as it is. You’re not going to be able to come through a modernise the place,” he said.

The mansion was built in 1907-1908 as the residence of Henry White (1858-1926), a wealthy farmer from Christchurch. Its design is based on an example in an American pattern book, published by George Barber in 1903.

The estate originally covered 160ha.

White sold the property to Henry Barker in 1927. He died in 1956 and left it to his nieces and nephews. His nephew Walter Barker moved in to the house for a while. The Estate was subdivided in 1968, with the mansion and its 8.5 ha of surrounding land being bought by Evelyn Pauley, and later occupied by her son, William.

In 1995, Acton was sold to Auckland developers and temporarily converted into a hotel. It has been also run as a bed and breakast and a wedding and event venue.

The mansion has been a registered as an historic building since 1984.