Dorset House history

The Dorset House where I am staying for a week including Xmas day was originally called Remuera and was built in 1871 by a certain Mr Way who was first a cash buyer of oats and barley and then moved to importing timbers and selling it on board the ship . He made a fortune and built this house with 27 rooms with 3 italian marblr fireplaces , 6 stalls in the stable and a coachhouse . Criquet was of course played on the lawn.
A huge drawingroom 45x18 foot was built in 1912 for the Ways golden anniversary. M’ Way survived it only 4 months.The house remained in the family for 70 years then in 1943 the 7 children sold it to the Nutt family for 3000 pounds and Mr Nutt divided the house in 5 flats.
In 1972 The Rédemptionist Fathers bought it again and transformed the big sitting room into their chapel.In 1980 it was sold back to the government and became a treatment centre and half way house for psychiatric patients , the Dorset House and was sold again to a group of partners to be used as it is now as a backpacker in Nov 98.
It is a lovely house. The drawing room is a magnificent (even so easily cold) room with a library, a pool table and many comfortable settees and that is where I will spend Xmas . My room, the only one for a single person, is tiny and so always warm . It cost 40 NZ$ a night which is about 22 euros .The garden is a delight as you can guess on the pictures. So I am quite happy.