Our History

The Homestead

Built by Frederick Tatham in the 1870’s, the Homewood homestead has been the epicentre of the Tatham family for 5 generations.  The two storied structure is reminiscent of the villa style architecture of the time, and was the foundation for what became a sprawling property with 7 dwellings at its peak.  The general store was located in the sheds behind the homestead, and its foreground features sprawling gardens that were originally designed by famed architect Alfred Buxton in 1913.  While much of the original garden has been lost to time, great efforts have been made to restore the gardens to their former glory, and many century old trees from this period still call the gardens home, such as pohutukawas, karakas, elms and redwoods.  

There have been many additions made to the structure throughout its history, with a complete interior renovation in 2012, however the exterior remains largely unchanged.  

The Farm

The land that today makes up Homewood farm was purchased by Andy’s great great Grandfather Frederick Tatham in 1876 from the Moore family, and has remained in Tatham hands ever since.  The station became a hub for local activity, hosting the local rugby club, a blacksmith and a general store. Over the years the station was split into smaller farms, and neighbouring land was bought and sold, but the core farm has always been farmed by Tathams under the Homewood name.   The farm has always had a strong focus on sheep and cattle, but has recently begun expanding into honey and olive production.

The Cottages

Homewood villa

The Homewood villa was built in the late 1870’s, and has been used to house both staff and family throughout its existence. The house has been integral to the past requirements of the property to accommodate, at times, dozens of people. In recent years the staffing requirements for the property have gone down significantly, and now the villa is available to visitors requiring accommodation. Being home to the traditional family dining table and the addition of a verandah in the late 90’s the has made the villa the property’s premiere location for social gatherings and events.

The Cooks Cottage

The Cooks cottage was also built in the late 1870’s, and was originally built for exactly the purpose you might think; to house the farm cook. The property would at times play host to dozens of people staying on site, and so an onsite cook was necessary to ensure everyone was adequately fed.  As the farm downsized, the cottage stopped being a permanent residence and became somewhat forgotten, only housing occasional staff or visiting family. A complete interior renovation and surrounding verandah built in 2016 has turned the cottage into the hidden jewel of the property’s accommodation options.