Above the Shotover Gorge, the valuable 2ha site is known as ‘‘Paddy Mathias’ Place’’, in honour of the late Paddy Mathias — a renowned blade shearer who lived an uncomplicated life on the property, in a settler-style cottage, for about 53 years.
Two years before he died in 2010, aged 96, he told The Southland Times, ‘‘I never want to see houses and roads here’’.
He would never sell to developers.
In 2007, he had his cottage and similar-style sleep-out, but not grounds, protected in Queenstown’s district plan.
Mr Mathias, who did not have any family, subsequently bequeathed the property to friend Colin White, whom he had known for 31 years and whom he had taught blade-shearing.
Mr White, who used to keep an eye on Mr Mathias, recalled his total surprise at opening a lawyer’s letter.
‘‘And I just said, ‘thank you, Paddy, I’ll look after it for you’.’’
After selling his home in Queenstown’s Sunshine Bay, Mr White used the proceeds to restore and extend Mr Mathias’ cottage with the help of heritage specialists.
The cottage dates back to about 1921.
‘‘My wife [Zandra] and I saved it, and [Arrowtown builder] Roy Bagley did a wonderful job.’’
Before his wife died early this year, Mr White said they had discussed having the property covenanted with the QEII National Trust.
There had been a lot of development in the area since Mr Mathias’ death, he said.
‘‘It’s just taken off in the last five years, and I’ve got a tower crane at my back gate.
‘‘We realised if we didn’t do something, developers would take over.’’
There is no doubt it is valuable land — according to property records, the capital valuation is $3,270,000, of which the land’s valued at $2,820,000.
Mr White said in Mr Mathias’ will, ‘‘his wish was for it to be continued on the way it has been — small-time farming, no development, end of story’’.
‘‘And the great thing is that is the way Paddy lived, he liked to live a simple life, as if time had passed him by.’’
Mr White’s generosity follows the example of local southern corridor farmers, Jillian and Dick Jardine and Bridget and Mike Mee.
In 2020, the Jardines announced they were gifting most of their Remarkables Station — 900ha — to the QEII Trust.
At the time, QEII chairman Bruce Wills said: ‘‘Combined with the Remarkables Station, the preservation of open space in an area under increasing pressure from development is something the Mees feel very passionately about.’’
Mr White said when QEII advised him in February an open space covenant had been registered on the title of his title, ‘‘it was a great day’’.
Writing to him, covenants and membership administrator Liz Tanfield concluded: ‘‘Thank you for protecting natural areas of your property for present and future generations to enjoy.’’
Echoing her, QEII regional representative Rob Wardle said it was ‘‘a great outcome’’.
‘‘It’s got quite an interesting story behind it because it [dates back] to the very start of the Shotover gold rush. I gather it’s one of the original gold mining sites.
‘‘I guess the fact it’s right beside the Morningstar Department of Conservation reserve also ties in with what’s there — that was another plus for us.
‘‘You just have to go there and you’re stepping back in time.’’
Typically, he said QEII covenants were placed on land that was outstanding for its biodiversity.
‘‘But we can do some that aren’t, and so we’ve got a number of landscape and historic covenants, and this is one of them.
‘‘The Jardines were an exception [in gifting land], but it’s a normal covenant where the landowner continues to own it, and QEII has the right to control the development rights.
‘‘So, we’ve got an interest in the property rather than owning it.’’
Mr Wardle said Mr White could still make money by selling it, ‘‘but it won’t be anything like a developer knocking on the door and offering him millions and millions’’.
‘‘Which is a bit of a common theme of that covenant and the Mees’ and the Jardines’ — they’ve all foregone significant financial gains.’’
Heritage architect Jackie Gillies, who consulted on the cottage restoration, said ‘‘I saw it after Paddy died and before it was renovated’’.
‘‘It was absolutely amazing — untouched, time capsule kind of thing, but impossible to live in if you hadn’t lived there already for 50 years, probably.
‘‘So, upgrading it made sense, but it was done sensitively.’’
Ms Gillies said the open space covenant ‘‘makes absolutely beautiful sense to me because Paddy Mathias gave it to Colin because he knew Colin was the only person that would respect it, love it, protect it’’.
‘‘And I guess Colin was wondering, ‘OK, well, what next?’
‘‘And the QEII thing is a beautiful solution to keep Paddy’s vision alive and going.’’
