Drury expands Point footprint

Rod Drury’s purchased this Arthurs Point section beside his Gantley’s Tavern property. PHOTO:...
Rod Drury’s purchased this Arthurs Point section beside his Gantley’s Tavern property. PHOTO: OLIVIA JUDD
Queenstown tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Rod Drury’s spent about $3millon buying his neighbour at Arthurs Point.

He’s bought the largely undeveloped section beside the Gantley’s Tavern property which he bought for $2.65m in 2020, and where he’s subsequently developed an events space and brewery, The Cargo Collective Brew Hall, at the rear.

Drury’s also involved with Queenstowner Adam Smith’s Treespace and Arthurs Point Wood developments high up on the other side of Arthurs Point Rd.

He says with his latest purchase "we’re thinking about getting some nice office environment for small firms, maybe design agencies or architect firms".

"It should be a really nice place to work, you don’t have to drive all the way into town.

"We might do a little bit of retail down the bottom.

"We haven’t locked in any plans, just sort of seeing what the community wants — if anyone wants to approach us with ideas, we’d love to hear."

Vendor Tony Koia operates his Rakau wood-fired pizzeria from the front of the property and his architectural firm from a relocated villa at the rear.

"I approached Rod to put in an offer because if anyone’s going to buy it, I would want it to be him."

Koia’s hoping to be involved in plans for the site.

"Currently there are leases in place for both businesses, and nothing’s likely to change for 18 months."

Rakau, he says, intends to become a tenant in Drury’s development, "as we love being part of the Arthurs Point community".

"Rakau is also in negotiations to purchase a second, larger site for its premises."

He’s also identified a number of sites well suited for shifting the villa to.

Koia owned the property for about eight years.

"Everyone told me it was a silly idea to buy in Arthurs Point, and I always thought it was really centrally located.

"And with the bike trail opening up, it just adds another dimension."

 

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