Guy's Homestead

Guy's Homestead is a late 19th century homestead located in East Auckland, New Zealand, and listed as a Category II building by Heritage New Zealand.

After being burnt down in an act of arson it was rebuilt and turned into an early learning centre.

Description
Guy's Homestead is an example of the contemporary architectural style of the time. It features french doors, two brick chimneys, and scalloped rafters.

History
The homestead was originally built in 1898 by Andrew Guy and Rose Guy, on Guy's orchard and dairy farm. The farmland would be subdivided over the years and by 1986 it had ceased. The property would remain in the Guy family's hands for 40 years until later being sold with the farmland.

In 1980 the Manukau City Council purchased the property and 0.9 hectares of land surrounding it to allow Ti Rakau Drive to be extended. In 1994 part of the original section was sold off to property developers and became the Huntington Park development.

In 1997 it was purchased by investors from Hong Kong. Following this purchase the property had gone into desuetude and was repeatedly vandalised prior to the arson. On 1 December 2012, the homestead burnt down in act of arson.

In 2013 two property developers, JP and Kuljeet Singh, bought it and had the property restored. In May 2015 the homestead opened as an early learning centre with a focus on teaching children about agriculture and rural life.

Following the arson some local residents campaigned for new regulations governing heritage protected properties.