Located in the Rangitikei region between Wellington and Lake Taupo, Maungaraupi Estate was established in 1852 when noted naturalist William Swainson acquired the land. The estate’s grand homestead would later be commissioned by his grandson, William Swainson Marshall, known as Will, who had deep connections to both the land and local culture.
Before establishing Maungaraupi, Will Marshall managed Te Hekenga farm, situated 50 kilometers upriver. The journey between properties in the 1870s required crossing the river 41 times on horseback, often while moving cattle through the dense native bush. Marshall’s profound understanding of the region and fluency in Te Reo Maori proved invaluable, particularly during a significant encounter with local tribes in 1875. Beyond his farming endeavors, Will Marshall contributed to New Zealand’s intellectual life as a founder-member of the Polynesian Society in 1892, one of the Southern Hemisphere’s oldest learned societies.
The estate takes its name from the neighboring stream, and in 1892, Will married Elizabeth Hilda Addie Swainson. Together they raised eight children at Maungaraupi, establishing a family legacy that would continue through the 1980s.
The homestead’s construction in 1906 was entrusted to esteemed architect Charles Natusch and local builder James McChesney. Built at a cost of £3,000, the 836-square-metre residence showcases exceptional craftsmanship and materials. Native timbers – rimu, matai, and totara – were seasoned for three years before construction, demonstrating the meticulous attention to detail that characterized the project.
The architecture combines Tudor and Elizabethan influences with elements of the Arts and Crafts movement. Notable features include pronounced gables, external timbering, and distinctive tall chimney stacks. The ground floor’s weatherboard exterior is complemented by half-timbered upper stories and gabled balconies. A unique observation tower provides views extending to Kapiti Island.
Maungaraupi has played a significant role in New Zealand’s cultural landscape. Between 1927 and 1940, the estate was captured in several works by Edith Collier, one of the country’s pioneering female modernist painters. These paintings are now preserved in the Whanganui Sarjeant Art Gallery collection.
The homestead retains its period character through carefully preserved features including native timber floors, traditional pull-handle toilets, open fireplaces, and the original wood-burning stove in the kitchen. A sympathetic restoration in the 1980s and roof replacement in 2013 have ensured the property maintains its historical integrity while meeting modern standards.
In recognition of its historical and architectural significance, Maungaraupi was designated a Category 1 Historic Place by the New Zealand Heritage List (Rārangi Kōrero) in 1987. Today, set within 23 hectares near the town of Marton, the estate continues to exemplify the grand vision of early New Zealand architecture while offering visitors an opportunity to experience this remarkable heritage firsthand.