New life for Glenorchy landmarks

The revamped front exterior of the 19th-century Paradise House, near Glenorchy. The restoration...
The revamped front exterior of the 19th-century Paradise House, near Glenorchy. The restoration of both the guesthouse and the historic Head of the Lake Community Church, in Glenorchy, will be celebrated on April 24. Photo by Jackie Gillies.
The restoration of two 19th-century landmarks in and near Glenorchy will be celebrated by the community on April 24.

The 127-year-old Paradise House, about 20km beyond the township, will be reopened as a guesthouse following its $900,000 restoration, which began in December 2008.

The homestead and the six cottages on the 130ha property will welcome 27 New Zealand doctors this Easter.

They will be the first paying guests in Paradise in about 70 years.

Invercargill resident Marijke Miller, the eldest daughter of the previous Paradise House owner, the late David Miller, will cut the ribbon during the on-site ceremony from noon to 3pm on April 24.

Paradise Trust chairman Bill Dolan, of Arrowtown, will thank the audience of restoration supporters, funders and tradespeople.

Central Lakes Trust chairman Duncan Butcher, of Cromwell, representing the project's lead funder, and Queenstown Lakes Mayor Clive Geddes are expected to give speeches.

Representatives from co-funders the Lottery Grants Board and the Community Trust of Otago will attend.

Tours through the property, displays of historical artefacts and refreshments are planned for the occasion.

Mr Dolan said Paradise House would be made available for groups lodging for up to 10 days and marketing was likely to start in spring.

Inquiries were already coming in for artists' retreats and corporate meetings.

Paradise House was originally designed and built as a retirement home for William Mason, New Zealand's first professionally trained architect and Dunedin's first mayor, in 1883.

The trust intended to restore all dwellings on the estate in phases.

Those celebrating the Paradise House restoration will then make their way to the 121-year-old Head of the Lake Community Church.

The ecumenical Glenorchy church will be rededicated in a service at 4.30pm, after a wedding ceremony.

The Rt Rev Dr David Coles, of the Wakatipu Anglican Church, will give the rededication prayer and will be joined by Catholic and Presbyterian church representatives during the 45-minute service.

The church was built by Henry William Valpy for his family and the community on his own land near the Valpy home "Kohimarama", on the Rees Valley Rd, in 1889.

The building was moved to Argyle St in 1957, as the Glenorchy population shifted.

Retired Salvation Army Major John Richards, of Kinloch, who is also a Valpy family descendant and church trustee, will deliver the sermon.

The extensive renovation was achieved by voluntary work, supplies and donations to the estimated value of $90,000 to $100,000, since August, 2009. The christening of a Glenorchy infant and the renewal of wedding vows by a visiting Texan couple, who arrived at the church on horseback, have already been held this month.

The rededication service will be followed by a community pot luck dinner, in the Glenorchy Hall at 6pm.

Church trust chairwoman Ruth-Ann Anderson, of Glenorchy, said she believed the new leases of life for both landmarks were important, "because it's a reminder of the pioneer spirit and how people survived in a very remote area.

"Both the Paradise trustees and the church trustees see ourselves as stewards and can hand on these iconic buildings in better condition than when we found them."

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