by Adrienne Matthews
A bit more than twelve years ago, Olivia Neubauer, a lawyer, and husband Timo, architect and urban designer, lived in Auckland. “We started renting out a room in our house through Airbnb which was quite a new concept at the time,” says Timo. “It was a really positive experience having holidaymakers stay with us and be really thankful for the simple things we could offer. We began to think about whether we could create a new lifestyle where more people could come and experience the beauty of the country and the hospitality we could offer them.”
“While we were thinking about where we wanted to move to, my parents threw Nelson into the mix,” says Olivia, who has some family history in this region. “It took us about a fraction of a second to decide that was a really good idea. For its size the region punches above its weight in so many ways. It’s got a great lifestyle with an incredible array of opportunities within such a short distance. There are the beaches and rivers, mountains for tramping, biking and skiing along with vibrant activities like the Nelson Market, many local artists and craftspeople and others making gourmet foods and beverages. It also meant being closer to my extended family who live in the same island. It’s got some reasonably big employers and quite a diverse range of businesses and people, which means that I can work here pretty easily.”
A neglected block of land in the foothills in Hope became available, complete with a dilapidated house built in 1910. ”We left our life in Titirangi behind and headed south with our two young sons, Louis, 1, and Oscar, 3,” explains Timo. A caravan became the family’s temporary home while they took on the enormous task of restoring the house and later, building The Pear Orchard Lodge from scratch.
It was a daunting project but a decade on and the couple’s hard work and dedication has blossomed into what has become a serene and welcoming haven, nestled in nature and with breathtaking views of the Waimea Plains stretching out below towards the distant mountains of Kahurangi National Park. The couple now welcome hundreds of visitors each year.
It was a project filled with challenges that might have overwhelmed many, but the Neubauers remained steadfast. Along with carrying out extensive work on the house to make it liveable, the couple transformed the property, digging out fences, planting fruit trees, regenerating a native wetland as well as building the lodge and separate “Shearer’s Cottage”. All has been designed to look like it has been there forever. “We were very conscious when designing the lodge that it reflects the history and vernacular of the rural area and fell in love with the old, corrugated iron clad house in the middle of a field along the Appleby Straight,” says Timo. “It had an old-New Zealand barn feel and it was often said it was the most photographed building in the region.”
With many years of experience working overseas, Timo had a number of building ideas which proved a challenge for the local council. He wanted to reuse the original iron from their homestead roof to mimic the barn-style patchwork in the new build’s wall claddings, but he had to prove that the material was still fit for purpose. Extensive testing revealed 125 years of durability remaining and it now has new pride of place as the cladding. “We wanted it to honour the farming heritage of the area.”
Much of the timber in the lodge has been milled off the couple’s land. Eucalyptus globulus (Tasmanian Blue Gum) can be seen on the floors, the verandah, as well as the corner bench that doubles as storage. The dining table and balustrades were constructed from the same material, but oiled to give them a warm patina. During the build, Timo worked as a hammer hand alongside the builders and tradespeople and Olivia continued to work as she still does part-time today.
“The most challenging aspect throughout the process was the difficulty and time taken in getting building consents,” says Timo. “Having had experience with building and urban design projects overseas, I found the paperwork here particularly galling and it took about twice as long as the actual building process. If we had known how endlessly frustrating it was going to be before we started, we probably wouldn’t have gone ahead which is why I have a great deal of empathy for others in the same position who are trying to create something unique and special, especially when it is going to help draw much needed visitors to the region.”
Draw people it does. The Pear Orchard Lodge welcomes guests from around New Zealand and the world, drawn by the hospitality, the serenity and the easy access to the region’s amenities. “The people who come, particularly those from overseas, are looking to enjoy the countryside,” says Timo. “The country’s international reputation is built on our landscape and natural wonders along with our hospitality. What we’ve got here in Tasman is very special with so many opportunities to explore the outdoors and what is produced off the land within a short distance. You just don’t get this in many parts of the world.”
“I didn’t anticipate being here at this stage of my life,” says Olivia. “It’s quite a different journey than I’d thought I would have had as a full-time lawyer, but it is a wonderful place to bring up children and feels very much like home now.” “You can’t beat being part of such a rich rural community either,” adds Timo.
