Historic 1850s homestead owned by local motoring icon hits the market

A historic homestead built by some of the first settlers in the Canterbury region has hit the market.

The grand home, sitting in Governors Bay on Banks Peninsula, was established in the 1850s by John Dyer, his sister Mary Ann, and Charles Parsons.

The trio planted the first stone fruit orchards of apricots and plums in Canterbury, according to Te Ūaka The Lyttelton Museum.

“With John Dyer being such an affable chap, he would often make a point of greeting wayfarers, and so the cattle road up the hill came to be known as Dyer’s Pass Road, being formally gazetted as such in 1911.”

What was once known as John Dyer’s Bay later became Governors Bay.

For the past 50 years, the 1.73-hectare estate had been the home to late local motoring icon Gavin Bain and his family. When he first moved in with his first wife, Jackie, the buildings were said to be in a sorry state. Together, they helped revitalise and renew the property.

Named Waitahuna, after the two creeks at its boundaries, the 229m² home wears its colonial-style character proudly. Timber floors, bay windows, French doors and a wraparound verandah evoke its heritage.

Modern touches include double glazing, along with a kitchen and conservatory extension designed by architect Peter Kent.

Agent Sarah Eastmond, of Bayleys, said the property had been “deeply loved and carefully maintained” over the past five decades.

“Opportunities like this are incredibly scarce. You’re not just buying a home steeped in history, you’re securing a landholding with genuine future potential in a location where supply is exceptionally limited.”

In a moving obituary from the Frazer Nash Car Club in 2024, Bain was described as having an “uncanny ability to source, buy and sell fantastic cars throughout his life”, calling it “unrivalled”.

“His library of motor books must be the best in the Southern Hemisphere, and his knowledge of what was in them, prolific.”

His passion for “preserving Governors Bay history” was also noted.

Jackie had sadly passed away several years earlier, but Bain later met and fell in love with Sharron Ballantyne.

She worked tirelessly in the gardens, winning awards and featured in NZ Gardener in 2021.

He made up for it by having a Victorian-style glasshouse built as an engagement present.

“He built it because I said I needed somewhere to play. I spend five days a week in the garden for at least three hours a day,” she said.

Eastmond said the location, close to the water’s edge and a short drive to Lyttelton, would make Waitahuna an enticing prospect.

“It’s ready for its next chapter, whether that’s continuing as a private estate or exploring the potential that comes with its scale, location and zoning.”