Blythcliffe

It is a rare heritage building that carries Category One status and still carries on working for her supper, towards a second centenary, but that is what grand old lady Blythcliffe is doing here in Akaroa.

A pure streak of timber 1857 heritage in the historic settlement, Blythcliffe is many times the size of the majority of historic buildings, and her section is even larger. Positioned perfectly on Rue Balguerie, the property includes accommodation in the main homestead and the converted stables, and activities such as petanque and croquet, and a private forest and stream.

Architecture, particularly the building's status as an example of the locally rare Colonial Regency style, is the reason Heritage New Zealand lately bestowed the Category One staus upon this building, comparing and aligning it with the Treaty House and Mission House in Northland. Most of Canterbury's heritage buildings are in the Gothic Revival Style, whereas the Colonial Regency was more used in New South Wales. Some fascinating details are that a portion of the weatherboards are unusual Baltic Pine, brought out from Europe as ballast on a ship, where the rest of the timbers are native. Ironically maybe, it was from the port of Akaroa that shiploads of Kauri was sent to build the homes of inner-city Sydney, where the style of this house was borrowed from. There are early colonial examples of Kiwi ingenuity applied to the insulation, like a ships canvas sail applied to the ground floor ceiling, and a cob mixtures stuffed in the front walls.

Even the way the weatherboards are applied sets this house apart from other Canterbury landmarks, as the colonial regency style called for flat frontages, usually rendered, so the boards were given this appearance. The rest, you must see for yourself.

BOOK YOUR STAY AT BLYTHCLIFFE STATELY HOME IN AKAROA