Historic Homes: No. 9, "Montrose"

High above the Wakapuaka Road, between Bay View Road and Atawhai, is a beautiful old home which commands a magnificent view of Tasman Bay and the mountains. The house was designed by that famous Nelson architect of last century, Mr Scotland, and was built, in the 1860's (approx) for a Mr Ledger. It was later sold to a Mr Wolfe, a German, and in 1907 passed into the hands of the McLaren family. Mr Norm McLaren remembers life in the old home quite vividly. The McLarens sold the house and a 52-acre block of land in 1915 to Mr George Wells, and when he died it was purchased by Mr C. H. Ruffell and it remains within his estate. The old house, built of heart matai, is still as solid as a rock. An interesting item on the old home unearthed by Mrs J. W. J. Ellis, who with her husband and family occupy the house at present, is that between 1882–83, a very cultured Maori chieftain, Te Whiti, from Parihaka, south of Egmont, was exiled to Nelson and was quartered at Montrose.

×

 

•