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New Zealand > Marlborough > Marlborough District > Riverlands

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NZD3,200,000

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House 6 bedrooms
For Sale
Riverlands
New Zealand

A good lifestyle luxury accommodation business in the hot spot of the world famous wine region of New Zealand.

Some History

The Peppertree has always been a focal point for the community of Riverlands near Blenheim. Around 1993, Cynthia Brooks, a local writer, researched the history of the Homestead and published her findings in a local newspaper. We quote from her article published on May 18 in the Picton Paper.

`Robert Bell was the first occupant of the spacious wooden home, once known as the Riverlands Run Homestead. He was one of four sons of early settler William Bell who, with his family, came to Wakapuaka in 1867 and took up the lease of Hillwood Farm. By the early 1870s William had enough behind him to buy the Erina run in the Wairau Valley. Later he sold Erina and bought the Benhopai Run in the Waihopai Valley and shortly afterward the 5600-acre farm known as Riverlands Run. In those days the farm extended as far south as the Ugbrooke Run in the Awatere.

William Bell died in 1895 and his estate was run in partnership by sons Adam and Robert. In 1905 it was recorded in the Cyclopaedia of New Zealand that Riverlands Run was grazing 4000 sheep with about 650 acres in crops. Robert Bell lived there until 1910 after which Adam Bell and his wife Hazeldene (nee Clouston) made in their home. The Bells in 1919 sold to Christopher Smith and in 1928 he sold to Robert Forsyth of Springbank, near Rangiora, in a deal that involved the Smith taking over the Forsyths` farm and retaining a portion of Riverlands.

So began the most stable period in the recent history of Riverlands. The Forsyths had four children, two sons and two daughters. Son Robin and the late Les and family lived in the homestead and carried on farming the property right up until the late 1950s, early 1970s. Toward the end of their era the farm was subdivided.

One block, the former Marlborough Racing Club`s course, in now Riverlands Industrial Estate, another Montana winery. Another block in Malthouse Lane, across State Highway 1 from the homestead, was still in the Forsyth family.

In 1968 the homestead block of 194 acres was sold to property developer Doug Irving who had the house converted into flats. This block was further diminished in size when in 1971, the house and 10 acres, and an adjoining 10 acres of bare land was sold to Ray and Roma Wright. Roma says that during the time it had been rented out the house became pretty run down, but it was an ideal place to raise eight children. The Wrights added on the house. Ray Wright, an antique collector and dealer trading in Blenheim, bought the old Mapp home in Stuard St. took it across country to Riverlands and attached it to the eastern end of the house. This piece would later become the dining room of the Peppertree Restaurant. In 1984 the Wrights decided to sell.

Enter Jeremy Jones and Suzie Goulter, who had made the decision to sell their Wellington restaurant and start one in Marlborough. The old home and few acres around Riverlands homestead were just what they were looking for - a main-road location and building large enough to accommodate a restaurant and family home.

The Peppertree was run as a restaurant for four years, receiving during that period, some high accolades. A brief spell as a private home followed before the Homestead was opened for guests in December 1994.`

In 1998 the Marlborough`s historic Peppertree Homestead had changed hands again, but will remain a luxury accommodation. Swiss born Heidi and Werner Plüss had bought the beautiful property, which they simply call `The Peppertree`.

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