Our History

In 1895, Heaton Rhodes and his wife Jessie moved into their new estate ‘Otahuna’, a name they chose for the property which they translated as ‘Little Hill among the Hills”. Otahuna remains Sir Heaton Rhodes’ most tangible legacy, the nexus of a love story that was written across six decades and thousands of acres.

Otahuna quickly became a fixture of Canterbury’s social scene in the early 20th century. As Heaton would come to be known as “The Grand Old Man” of New Zealand public life, he and Jessie entertained many prominent guests at their beloved home and hosted a royal visit by the Duke of York (later King George VI) in 1927.

Sir Heaton Rhodes

Born in 1861 on the nearby Banks Peninsula, Heaton Rhodes was one of a prominent family of early pioneers in Canterbury. Heaton was educated in Christchurch and at Oxford University. Meeting Jessie Cooper Clark would change his life and lead to the creation of a magnificent new home for New Zealand. Across a distinguished career in politics and a lifetime of public service, Heaton would be knighted four times and became one of the greatest benefactors of Christchurch.

Lady Jessie Rhodes

Jessie Cooper Clark was born in 1865 in the Victorian countryside near Melbourne. After meeting Heaton while travelling on a steamer ship from England to Australia, the two began a courtship and married in 1891. Jessie became a prominent benefactor of multiple causes particularly those benefitting women and children. Upon her unexpected death in 1929, Heaton commissioned the re-building of St Paul’s Church in Tai Tapu in her memory.

The Dining Room

Among the first generation of Western tourists to visit Japan, Heaton and Jessie collected many pieces of porcelain, bronze, paper and other Japanese objet d’art on their honeymoon. The Dining Room was clad in rare, gilded ‘Japanese Leather Paper’ (known as Kinkarakami) which remains one of property’s most important decorative elements today.

Sir Heaton Rhodes

Born in 1861 on the nearby Banks Peninsula, Heaton Rhodes was one of a prominent family of early pioneers in Canterbury. Heaton was educated in Christchurch and at Oxford University. Meeting Jessie Cooper Clark would change his life and lead to the creation of a magnificent new home for New Zealand. Across a distinguished career in politics and a lifetime of public service, Heaton would be knighted four times and became one of the greatest benefactors of Christchurch.

Lady Jessie Rhodes

Jessie Cooper Clark was born in 1865 in the Victorian countryside near Melbourne. After meeting Heaton while travelling on a steamer ship from England to Australia, the two began a courtship and married in 1891. Jessie became a prominent benefactor of multiple causes particularly those benefitting women and children. Upon her unexpected death in 1929, Heaton commissioned the re-building of St Paul’s Church in Tai Tapu in her memory.

The Dining Room

Among the first generation of Western tourists to visit Japan, Heaton and Jessie collected many pieces of porcelain, bronze, paper and other Japanese objet d’art on their honeymoon. The Dining Room was clad in rare, gilded ‘Japanese Leather Paper’ (known as Kinkarakami) which remains one of property’s most important decorative elements today.

A Home for New Zealand A Home for New Zealand

Generations of New Zealanders best know Otahuna for its numerous and bountiful fields of daffodils. Heaton Rhodes and his gardening team pollinated rows upon rows of flowers by hand to develop new varieties of daffodil on the Estate. Thousands of the spring flowers were on display annually from the 1920s onwards at “Daffodil Day” when members of the public were welcomed to Otahuna to tour the gardens. Rhodes’ legendary daffodil fields were a key pillar of Christchurch’s image as “The Garden City".

Generations of New Zealanders best know Otahuna for its numerous and bountiful fields of daffodils. Heaton Rhodes and his gardening team pollinated rows upon rows of flowers by hand to develop new varieties of daffodil on the Estate. Thousands of the spring flowers were on display annually from the 1920s onwards at “Daffodil Day” when members of the public were welcomed to Otahuna to tour the gardens. Rhodes’ legendary daffodil fields were a key pillar of Christchurch’s image as “The Garden City".

A new chapter penned by a visionary pair A new chapter penned by a visionary pair

111 years after Heaton Rhodes built his wife the ultimate grand romantic gesture, another pair fell in love with Otahuna. Room by room and acre by acre, Hall, Miles and their team continue to revive and maintain this magnificent estate. Retelling its story for a new century, and warmly welcoming you into its next chapter.

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