History

Built in the fashionable neo gothic style on 4000 acres near Timaru in 1884 by early pioneer George Hampton Rhodes  at the age of 23 as a wedding gift for his French bride,  Henrietta.  Theirs was the first wedding celebrated in the Christchurch Cathedral. Built of local bluestone and limestone by English stonemasons and finished with imported mahogany windows and fireplaces and stained glass feature windows from England. The roof is made of welsh slate bought over as ships ballast.

Claremont includes a private  chapel,  and pool.  The house includes a full sized billiards room, library, morning  room, formal ball room ( now the formal dining room) and the original glass conservatory was unfortunately removed during the mid 1940's.  Great banquets for 100 guests at a time  were held on the verandah with all manor of excitement with horses and carts bringing the guests and the cooks fussing over pots for 3 days preparing the meal.

The carved chalk Prince of Wales feathers on the roof peaks symbolize allegiance to the crown were testament to the influence the Rhodes had in the early chapters of  NZ history and Governors' General would often stay when in town.  

The Rhodes family exerted significant influence over NZ. At one time they owned most of the land of Timaru ( all land north of North St) and built the Landing Services Building that the Visitor information centre is now located in.  The Levels station was one of 17 holdings they had in NZ  and included most of Timaru and the 150,000 acres of land bordered by the Pareora  and Opihi and Opua rivers from the sea to Burkes Pass.  At one time they tried to advance a claim for the bottom 1/4 of the north island that would have included Martinborough.

True to the neo Gothic Style no two door or window sets in the house are the same. Upstairs were the private family rooms which included the 3 main bedrooms,  a nursery wing with adjoining door between the Nanny's and children's rooms and 4 servants rooms.

Other significant Rhodes Family Homes are at Blue Cliffs, Purau,  Rangi Ruru, Tai Tapu, Levels.

The gardens were designed by a Scotsman   Mc Farlane  who was later commissioned to design the Timaru botanical gardens. The garden was planted with a mix of native and exotic plants. These included exotic trees :  Giant  Sequoia,  fir,  Oregon , Oak,  Washingtonia Palm,  Pine, Vanilla tree, flowering red ornamental plum, Fuchsia, Native Cabbage trees, Karaka, Ribbonwood,  Shrubs : Roses, Wisteria, Rhododendrons, Hydrangeas, Laurel hedges, Box hedging,  St Johns Wort,  together with  an orchard of Plums, Pears, Apples. 

The Rhodes had 4 children who were all educated in the best of British schools.

By 1912 Henrietta  wanted to return to her native europe and the family left for the  long sailing to Europe with instructions to the local estate agent to sell the property. Months later while in England they changed their mind and telegraphed to advise of their return and with instructions to take Claremont off the market. The telegraph reply read....  " Regret to advise Claremont sold 2 days earlier"

The next notable family was Major and Mrs. Bond who raised their 3 daughters helped by their  staff  of 3  and  are still remembered fondly by the local community.

In 1999 Claremont was purchased by John West  and was refurbished  as a boutique hotel.