“The Country Villa Located in the City”

Originally located on the "Island of Mataruahou" off the Napier coast, the island was purchased from the Maori chiefs in 1856 for 50₤.

The principal estate encompassed the crown of the island and became a private “plantation” complete with country villa, servant quarters, guest house, gazebo and a summer cottage.  When the earthquake of 1931 hit the island, it was raised 2 metres out of the ocean, connecting the island to the mainland.

Today, the country villa, now known as “The Masters Lodge”, sits on the same land, now known as “Bluff Hill,” providing all of its original country gentility & historic charm while located a mere 1 kilometre from Napier’s city centre with all of its restaurants, shops and entertainment venues.

The Villa 1890 -- 1896
The first villa built on Mataruahou was this 1-storey rimu, matai and kauri wood house, complete with an out-house, garden shed, wood cooking stove and a very rough horse path allowing access to and from the township and port of Napier. The exact date of its construction is no longer known as all civic records were destroyed in the earthquake of 1931. However, photos taken from Marine Parade toward Bluff Hill show that the house had to have been built between 1890 and 1896. 

The style is 'Australasian Villa' with low-pitched roof, and reflected in its use of board and batten exterior cladding, dispensing with the then popular style of English steep-pitched roofs and projecting balconies.  

1924
Gerhard Husheer was the founder and managing director of the National Tobacco Company in New Zealand. Indeed, he was entirely responsible for the establishment of the tobacco industry in New Zealand. Increasing prosperity for the Company under his leadership meant that Husheer was able to purchase the house on the crown of  Mataruahou Island, where he had been captivated by the views since his first visit to Napier in 1890.  

1928
As his financial circumstances improved, he also found time to expand his holdings on Mataruahou Island. He acquired additional pieces of land adjacent to the original section; however, these were too steep and inaccessible for building sites so he started to lay these out in terraces and paths, planting shrubs, trees and flowers. In sunny sheltered parts he even managed to grow bananas. Many beautiful and noble trees eventually graced his "Plantation" as he called the park-like vista enjoyed from his spacious verandah.   

1930
Mr. Husheer now purchased the house next door which he named "Cliff House" and subsequently used as a servants quarters. He also acquired the house behind Cliff House which he named "Waimarie" and  subsequently used as a guest house.  Additional land was also acquired, sloping down the hillside and out to a dramatic point overlooking the Pacific and Cape Kidnappers where a gazebo and a retreat house were built.

As his son, Torvald, wrote: "as Father's financial position kept rising so did his ideas and he thought it was now time to have his home remodelled and enlarged. So after a month's consultation with Louis Hay our architect, plans for the rearrangement and the addition of a second storey were completed and construction started as soon as Mother and Father had shifted temporarily into Cliff House next door".  

With a lavish budget, architect Louis Hay set about decorating the house with expensive leadlight windows in elaborate Louis Comfort Tiffany designs of fruit and flowers. He added Art Deco doors, Art Nouveau brass door handles and plates, Arts & Crafts fireplaces, and  Charles Rennie Mackintosh stylised rose motif leadlights, carvings & appliques, and made the principal residence "a stunner".  

The combined properties were landscaped and planted with trees, predominantly the New Zealand natives that he so admired, and these in time created a unique park over which his house commanded stunning views of Napier's Marine Parade and the Heretaunga Plains.  

3rd February 1931
At 10:47 am, an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 on the Richter scale hit Napier and rippled through the surrounding communities.  The town was demolished by the earthquake and by the numerous aftershocks and fires that followed. 

"....part of the Island had collapsed, taking with it half an acre of Father's garden and a large summer house which stood near the edge of the cliff."  

"....as best she could, Mother closed up the Elizabeth Road house, which was in a devil of a mess internally but had withstood the quake remarkably well."  

"....early in June Father purchased a nice house in Havelock North, and lived there until November 1931, when the Elizabeth Road house was repaired and completely renovated."  

The earthquake had raised Mataruahou Island 6 metres out of the ocean, connecting the island to the mainland. The island was renamed "Bluff Hill".

1968 
In 1968 following the death of Mrs. Husheer, the house was purchased by a young couple, Margaret and Anthony Dick, and used as their family home for nearly 30 years.  

1996
In January 1996, Doris and Urs Blum (emigrants from Switzerland) acquired the property with the intent to renovate it and open an exclusive lodge. After careful planning and extensive renovations, the residence was brought back to its former glory and "The Master's Lodge" was officially opened on 11 January 1997.  

2003 & Beyond
In 2003, The Masters Lodge acquired new owners from America, Joan and Larry Blume, who have further enhanced the reputation of this fine Lodge. The Masters Lodge continues to receive international acclaim as one of the most outstanding travel residences in the world. 

The Masters Lodge has won the renowned Art Deco Award for its restoration. It was recently named one of the "Five Best Art Deco Hotels" in the World by The Independent News UK.  XtraMSN  has recently called The Masters Lodge one of the "Top Ten Romantic Lodges of New Zealand" and Luxury Travel Magazine has named it one of the “Top Ten Gourmet Getaways" in the World.  The Lonely Planet Guide has called The Masters Lodge "The Most Upmarket Place In Napier". The Lodge was also named one of "New Zealand's Top 10 Experiences"  by New Zealand Travel Ltd. 

 
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"The Master's Lodge boutique lodgings offer luxury hotel style accommodation situated in Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand (NZ). Our retreat offers elegant bed and breakfast with optional gourmet dinners, spa options, and wedding and honeymoon packages."