Manawatū family linked to All Blacks gives old homestead new lease on life

RNZ News

4 hours ago

Romney Lane homestead is down a long driveway with extensive gardens.
Photo:
Brad Hanson
A Manawatū family with links to rugby royalty has given their century old homestead a new lease on life.
Constructed of native totara it's called Romney Lane and is the home where sheep and beef farmer Ian Strahan grew up with his All Black playing dad Sam Strahan.
Lock Sam was Manawatu's 14th All Black, regularly turning out alongside Colin Meads. And like many players from his generation, training was in the paddock.
Ian said the home at Kiwitea, near Feilding, lends itself nicely to agritourism due to its quiet and accessible location.
There was plenty of hard graft to get there with a new kitchen installed.
What Ian hadn't done was shy away from his father's legacy as a formidable lock.
A collection of rare rugby books, photos and even a jersey from Sam's international career are in the homestead. He played from 1967 to 1973 which included 17 international test matches.
Sam Strahan putting his lineout skills to good work against England at Twickenham in 1967.
Photo:
Ian said he also wanted to maintain the grand old home to a high standard.
"My parents have passed on and we have a house at the other end of the farm" Ian Strahan said.
"It's a beautiful old homestead tucked away in a lovely garden and setting well off the road.
"We're keen to tell a story about what we do in the country and bridge that gap."
The Strahan family on their sheep and beef farm at Kiwitea with their border terrier Bear.
Photo:
supplied
Steph Strahan, who manages Romney Lane, said it had been a steep learning curve taking on visitors.
She had joined an agribusiness group to pick up tips and share ideas.
As a chef, she's keen to expand the catering potential and to add experiences like a farm walk and biking.
Romney sheep were once the backbone of the farming operation.
Photo:
Brad Hanson
"We're just starting out and I can see the potential for it to grow," Steph Strahan said.
Visitors tell her they adore the homestead amidst the secluded garden. And recently an Australian film crew visited the property for an undisclosed project.
"I'm hoping to do a little bit more in-house catering, I've been a private chef before. If we get some more international guests I'm hoping to get into that space."
Steph said it was a thrill to read the guestbook and felt the enjoyment of people who came to enjoy their slice of country.
And a quick dash for snacks wasn't out of the question for visitors. The local dairy is six kilometres away at Cheltenham, with cafes and a store around a 10 minute drive away at Kimbolton.
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