Masterpiece from Middle-earth, unique home on market for first time in 30 years

Weka, the inquisitive flightless bird now most commonly found on the West Coast and the top of the South Island, had all but died out in Golden Bay when Brian and Karen Cooper moved there 30 years ago.

The creative couple had been looking for a place where Brian, a woodworker, could have his workshop and a little gallery to sell his pieces. After a short search, they found a wedge of farm land on Collingwood-Bainham Main Rd they could call their own.

They were delighted to discover their little corner of the bay had one of the last colonies of weka in the region. They were even called on to help capture and tag the vulnerable native birds for the Department of Conservation (DOC).

Over the next decade, the couple added other structures to the property including Cooper’s workshop and an art studio for his wife, Karen.

"It was right when they were filming Lord of the Rings," says Brian. "We called it Weka Workshop, because Wētā Workshop [was working on the films] of course, but we actually had weka, and we doubted whether they had wētā."

DOC had even put signs up on the road near their place warning motorists to watch out for the birds, “so it just seemed to fit”.

The gallery was “very successful” for 20 years, and then Covid came. Brian and the couple’s son Ben renovated the home inside and out mostly using timber the couple had collected over the years.

“It took 14 months, and we’re so proud of the result. It’s warm, full of character and truly handmade,” says Karen.

Covid gave the couple a chance to reassess their lives. Both on the pension and enjoying a chance to sit on their verandah surrounded by the bush, the stream and the abundant wildlife, they realise it was time to slow down.

“We sort of got our life back and realised, 'let's not do this any more',” says Brian.

They closed the gallery and Brian continued making furniture on a more casual basis, until a second health crisis hit the couple. Brian had a stroke, followed by a triple heart bypass.

"I bounced back, I fought back, and I'm still able, but we felt it was time for us to downsize."

It hasn’t been an easy decision, there are a lot of fond family memories and hard work built into the fabric of this property. Brian told his wife, Karen, an artist, he was going to build “a house for her”.

He used all the timber he’d been saving up for years, and hand-carved each piece. The living area and kitchen are a real rustic triumph, with raw edge slabs of pine for walls, counters, and built in shelving and seating.

He has also made some of the furniture, including the lamps and a monumental dining table. More of his work features in the bedrooms, including another monumental double bed hewn from huge planks of hand-milled timber.

The bathroom has Scandinavian sauna vibes, with ship-lap walls and a tongue and groove ceiling.

The home will certainly appeal to anyone who’s hoping to live closer to, and in concert with the landscape.

The Coopers hope the buyer will be "somebody like us 20- maybe 30- years ago. Somebody artistic, a gardener, a creative person."

The property would also suit somebody with an extended family, as there are already several buildings that couple be used as accommodation. The former gallery, with the workshop next door has the potential to be converted into a residence, yoga studio, or even a cafe.

"There's the potential for that as there was a café here called the Naked Possum years ago, just down the road, a bush café that sold wild meat pies. I actually built it, and it was very successful."

The land is very productive, and you could become self-sufficient with a little work.

"When we came here, there was a house and the rest was a horse paddock. Now it's an orchard. We've gone the the food forest way - we've got natives and fruit trees and we've planted some trees that are now huge in that amount of time.

"We've got a wonderful olive tree that was here, and may be the oldest olive in Golden Bay. And last year we got 100 kilos of olives off one tree. So it's phenomenal."

While the couple has deep feelings about leaving the place they’ve built together, they are also excited about the future. The next phase of their life will be living closer to town.

"We're both in our 70s now, but don't worry, it won't be long before everybody knows which is our house in town either."

With a CV of $630,000, the Coopers are seeking $895,000 for their bespoke, 3-bed home and the 0.84ha section, with all the outbuildings. The listing is with Billy Kerrisk for Ray White.