Coniston
Coniston formerly the Ashburton Run which incorporated Runs 98 & 99 which together totalled 27,000 acres was taken up in August 1853 by Henry John Tancred (98) and Sir Thomas Tancred (99). In 1854 H.J. Tancred sold his share to Rev. J.C. Allen. These owners did not farm the Run but had managers or leased it to other Run holders, among them John Hayhurst and T.S. Moorhouse.
The property was cut up into smaller farms in 1877, and the name of the Homestead block changed to Coniston. A brass plaque erected near the homestead commemorates the first church service conducted in Ashburton by the first Bishop of Canterbury, the Rt. Rev. Henry John Chitty Harper in August 1857.
The current homestead, built in 1918, has four guest rooms all with ensuites, offering bed & breakfast accommodation.
The first homestead, built in the 1870s, is now the Gardener's Cottage and is available for holiday accommodation.
A small building built in 1918 has been shifted to the top of the lake and renovated as a shepherd's cottage, and named Lake Cottage, also available for romantic getaways.
The garden consists of 6.5 acres of woodland, lake and formal gardens. Some of the mature trees were planted from the 1870s onwards, and include gigantic wellingtonias, oaks, elms, cedards ,ashes, kauri and a tree that was planted to mark Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Coniston on the 13th of October 1981.
Coniston Chapel, formerly the Flemington Presbyterian Church which was built in 1885, was relocated to Coniston in 2008 and restored to its original condition.
Coniston Motor Garage houses a collection of vintage and classic cars, and the Granary Museum houses a collection of farm machinery and memorabilia from years gone by.
Currently the farm grows cereal, grass seed and small seed crops, and fattens winter lambs. There is also a small Highland Cattle stud.
We also have accommodation available at our High Country Station, Mount Whitnow. Click the link for more information.
The property was cut up into smaller farms in 1877, and the name of the Homestead block changed to Coniston. A brass plaque erected near the homestead commemorates the first church service conducted in Ashburton by the first Bishop of Canterbury, the Rt. Rev. Henry John Chitty Harper in August 1857.
The current homestead, built in 1918, has four guest rooms all with ensuites, offering bed & breakfast accommodation.
The first homestead, built in the 1870s, is now the Gardener's Cottage and is available for holiday accommodation.
A small building built in 1918 has been shifted to the top of the lake and renovated as a shepherd's cottage, and named Lake Cottage, also available for romantic getaways.
The garden consists of 6.5 acres of woodland, lake and formal gardens. Some of the mature trees were planted from the 1870s onwards, and include gigantic wellingtonias, oaks, elms, cedards ,ashes, kauri and a tree that was planted to mark Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Coniston on the 13th of October 1981.
Coniston Chapel, formerly the Flemington Presbyterian Church which was built in 1885, was relocated to Coniston in 2008 and restored to its original condition.
Coniston Motor Garage houses a collection of vintage and classic cars, and the Granary Museum houses a collection of farm machinery and memorabilia from years gone by.
Currently the farm grows cereal, grass seed and small seed crops, and fattens winter lambs. There is also a small Highland Cattle stud.
We also have accommodation available at our High Country Station, Mount Whitnow. Click the link for more information.
