They bought an 1870s hospital sight unseen — now it’s time for a new chapter

Kiwi Ginni Post and her husband Rufus loved the tiny Far North town of Rawene so much that when they spotted the town’s 1870s-built Wharf House for sale, they bought it without stepping foot inside.

The family was living in Sydney at the time, and they were ready for a change of pace - they had often visited Rawene for summer holidays.

"It was pretty much an empty shell that we bought at auction," Post says. "I was in my office in Sydney and bought it on the phone."

Despite living so far away, the family was well acquainted with the town and the historic building at 4 Russell Esplanade. Post’s father-in-law is a stalwart of the town, having lived there for more than 20 years. He gave the home a once-over in person on the family’s behalf.

Built in the 1870s, the Pouhere Taonga Heritage New Zealand Category 2 listed building was originally the town’s hospital. It was later converted into the Wharf Hotel, comprising two wings: the single-storey “house” to the east and a two-storey “hospital” wing to the west.

The Posts bought the home in 2015, but weren’t able to move in until moved in late 2019, when the work was complete. The change of pace was “definitely a culture shock”, going from a city of four million to "this village of around about 400 residents". But it was also "a nice time" for the young family.

"We just had our second baby, so I was on maternity leave anyway. And then, lo and behold, we went into Covid lockdown a few months later. So it was the perfect place to be during that period of history."

Besides, they had their work cut out for them getting the Wharf House up to living standard as the property had been empty for a while. The previous owner had begun renovations but was unable to complete them, so the home was “a building site”.

“We saw it as a great opportunity to complete it and bring it back to life. It's full of so much history," says Post.

"It's just such a beautiful, beautiful part of New Zealand. Just so relaxed and laid back. Beautiful water views everywhere, right through Rawene, up to Ōmāpere and Opononi. It's just such a calming place. It was a nice retreat from the business of Sydney."

While the building’s original purpose is far behind it, it’s still a place of healing. That’s something Post says extends to the whole town.

"It makes you slow down. You've got that beautiful fresh sea air, and absolutely it does have that feeling of calm and healing."

At night, the whole town is silent except for the sound of the waves.

Inside, the home is simply decorated. While many of the original period features had been lost over time, one significant feature remains: original, locally sourced and milled kauri flooring.

Now restored and, frankly glorious, the floorboards are exactly what any Kiwi renovator hopes will be waiting for them when they pull up some old carpet.

"What I love about them is the floorboards are all different widths. You get the big fat ones, some thin ones. It's a real combination. We've brought them back to life," Post says.

"I love the big, high ceilings in the main hall. It's just such a great room. You could imagine taking out the big dining table and having a party in there, a dance or something. It's all been newly built inside, but it still feels like it has a lot of character."

The only other original feature is the upper staircase, which has also been restored.

Now that the kids are older, Post says they needed to be in a slightly larger town for their sake. They have since resettled in Kerikeri.

While they still let two rooms in the home on Airbnb, she reckons it’s time to pass the historic building to its next custodian.

The property would suit someone who would like to run it as a boutique hotel, perhaps someone ready for a quieter pace of life who wants to take part in the town’s tourism renaissance.

Post is so sure that the spirit of the town and the beautiful vibes of the home will have a positive impact on potential buyers, she’s happy to offer a night’s accommodation for free to anyone seriously enquiring about the purchase.