The culmination of a mammoth restoration of McNulty House in Cromwell resulted in the Inniscort St property opening its doors to the public to highlight work done, and for auctions — both live and silent — to be held to fund continuing work on the historic home.
About $8500 was raised from the auctions and donations.
Lots included a tour of Parliament and meal for two at Bellamy’s restaurant with Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean; an overnight trip for two to Doubtful Sound; and an Akaroa Cooking School dinner for six to eight people.
The house, built between 1868 and 1896, is administered by Old Cromwell Inc, and chairwoman Helen Scoles said the open day was the first time the public could see inside the restored building.
Offering a potted history, Mrs Scoles said the house was built by John Marsh, former prime minister Helen Clark’s great-great-grandfather on her father’s side.
It was named Stonehurst after the place Mr Marsh lived in Australia when he first emigrated from England. It would change hands several times before the McNulty family and its present namesake bought it.
In 1935, the property was sold to Margaret Guffie McNulty for an unknown sum.
The property remained in the hands of the McNulty family until 2012 when, following the death of Frank McNulty, it was purchased by the Cromwell Community Board with financial assistance from the Central Lakes Trust and the Otago Community Trust for long-term lease to Old Cromwell Inc.
Meanwhile, in Alexandra, Vallance Cottage in Samson St, built in the late 1880s by William Vallance, a shepherd-gold-miner from Scotland, opened its doors in conjunction with a market day. Some of Mr Vallance’s descendants were on hand to view their family history.
