IN AND AROUND EARLY CHRISTCHURCH—V “Otahuna,” Tai Tapu

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32661, 17 July 1971, Page 13

IN AND AROUND EARLY CHRISTCHURCH—V “Otahuna,” Tai Tapu

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J. A. HENDRY, F.N.Z.I.A.)

“Otahuna,” a large timber and slated house, was built in 1895 by Sir Robert Heaton Rhodes for his Australian bride, Jessie Cooper Clark.

Born at Purau Homestead in 1861, some seven years after it was built, Rhodes was educated locally and abroad, graduating M.A. at Oxford in 1887 and on the same day was called to the Bar of the Inner Temple.

Back in Christchurch he was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court, but eventually turned to politics. After 26 years in the House of Representatives, during which time he held Ministerial Posts, he was appointed to the Legislative Council where he remained for 16 years until 1942. Another strong interest was in the Order of St John of Jerusalem and of its better known St John Ambulance Brigade. From 1893 he accumulated a considerable holding at Tai Tapu and interestingly enough he repurchased from Henry Francis Gray and others, several rural sections originally granted in the early 60’s and 70’s to the Rhodes Brothers of Purau. After his death in 1956 some 40 acres, which included the house and grounds, were sold to the Boyd family* and for some years “Otahuna” became a guesthouse. The present owners, the Trustees of the Christian Brothers of New Zealand, a Roman Catholic Order, acquired the property in 1962. Differing styles Rhodes employed as his architect Frederick Strouts who had designed "Elmwood,” the town house of Rhodes senior, and he appears to have been given a free hand on this virgin site of rolling hills with no other shelter.

This is the result, which, viewed from a distance, composes into a pleasing whole dominated by the massive roof and relieved by the semicircular arches of the first floor veranda, but this effect is dispelled when examined closely. Because of the complexity of detail and shadow contrasts a feeling of confusion becomes uppermost, so that with relief the eye singles out the stone seat and steps leading to the front entrance.

Differing window types and styles are used with gay abandon, as are gables, hips, projecting and cantilevered

bay windows and balconies seemingly radiating from the octagonal bay to the left of the sketch. That, externally, the house is impressive there is no doubt but in my opinion a little less exuberance would have improved the total effect. Rich colours Internally there is a similar exuberance seen to perfection In the vaguely Jacobean entrance and stair hall, but toned down by a sombre yet very rich colour scheme of polished natural timber, and heavily embossed gold and faded apricot wallpaper, combined with rich Indian carpets. The huge dining-room, in similar decor, has a vast fireplace and overmantel flanked by ingle-nook seats.

A change occurs in the drawing-room which is more delicate and still fitted with its specially woven velvet pile blue carpet.

This lies to the left of the entrance and flows into the octagonal bay. The former billiards room occupying the single storey wing to the right of the sketch has now been transformed into a chapel and many of the large bedrooms into dormitories. It is hard to realise that when "Otahuna” was completed it must have been bleak and windswept for today windbreaks, specimen trees and shrubberies protect the house from the prevailing winds, a compliment to vision and careful planning. [The pen-and-wash drawing is by A. J. Mair.]