Homebush Homestead

Homebush Homestead, located in Homebush, New Zealand, was an iconic historic home built by the pioneering Deans family between the 1880s and 1903. This triple-brick homestead, recognized as a Heritage New Zealand Category I historic place, was severely damaged in the 2010 Canterbury earthquake and subsequently demolished. A new building, designed by Athfield Architects, was completed in 2014, incorporating elements from the original structure. The site features remarkable historic structures, including a unique water turbine from 1880, which powered farm machinery and is believed to be the only one of its kind still in situ globally. The expansive eight-acre gardens, developed over 172 years, showcase a variety of significant trees and a circular orchard. Homebush also served as a filming location for the 2005 movie 'The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe' and hosts a museum in the old stables, displaying artifacts from pioneering life in the Canterbury region.