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Mackley Homestead Waipuna. - ALBUM -
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DescriptionThe Waipuna dairy farm prospered and after a few years, the 1860's manuka home gave way to a splendid residence in the best architectural style of the period. It became a landmark in the valley. Samuel Mackley worked the farm for half a century and after his death, his wife and sons carried on. Ernest Mackley was the last direct descendent to farm the property. It was then managed by George Ferguson. In 2010 Waipuna Station was in good hands owned and worked by the sons of George Ferguson, Mark and Ken Ferguson. The old farmhouse is abandoned but still standing as time takes it's toll.Map[1] ContributorTony Kokshoorn
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Location (city or town)WaipunaPersonGeorge FergusonSamuel MackleyMark FergusonKen FergusonLandmark (Place)Mackley Homestead Waipuna.
Category Information
Category TagOld Houses
From Facebook
Date Created13th October 2021CommentsKerry Molloy
I was very fortunate to nurse one of the Mackley descendants in my tine at Seaview .Ray mackley was quiet but a total gentleman. he always asked for a new brown suit for Xmas.
Bob Laing
When reading the first article I thought the property was George’s. I think you will find George’s full name is George Mackley Ferguson who was on and I think became the Chair of the West Coast Catchment Board. I lived in Ross in the early 1950s and I got my first dog from either George or his father when they farmed at Ferguson’s Bush, south of Ross.
What an interesting two articles. Thank you Tony K.
Peter Robertson
Bob Laing George did buy it. And being a Mackley descendant,through his mother,the farm is still in the hands of Samuel Mackley's descendants.
Bob Laing
Peter Robertson
Thanks for that
Bob Laing
George’s brother was Mack Ferguson. Mack shortened from Mackley.
Julian Tyerman
It would be a shame to see it disappear considering its still in some sort of form
Robin Gibbens
Great piece of West coast history, shame to see the house going to ruin
Maree Thwaites
I spent many hours playing in that old house as a kid. The best playhut. Lisa Richardson Sue Martin
Sue Martin
Maree Thwaites sure was!
Matthew Alexander
What a shame it was never rebuilt would of looked gd
Sandra Wylie
Fiona Bisphan Kerry Messervy had some good memories at Waipuna
Kerry Messervy
Sandra Wylie don't remember that building, pinky the cow, & Jimmy the Horse & Dad getting kicked in the head. The big Balls used to scare the crap out of me when it was beside my bike after getting off the school bus. Going down to see Dad when he was doing the kill & put the slops in the pit.
Ada Milne
I thought Jim was at Ferguson bush south of Ross he lived there till he pass away
Bob Laing
Ada Milne
Was Jim the father or another brother?
That is where we got the dog and I thought it was from George.
John Flattery-donohoe
Ada Milne do you mean waitaha valley
Belinda Ferguson
That view though Katrina Anderson
Katrina Anderson
Belinda Ferguson most magic place. Etched in our minds forever.
Jamie Dench
What an amazing place! Where is this located?
Sam Win
We used to stay in the house as shearing quarter's in the early 70s magic house a lot of history
Geoff Crook
Sam Win Back in the good ol days ay Sam
Sam Win
Geoff Crook right on some great parties to ☺
Lynette Campbell
Sam Win yes I remember staying there to we cooked for the Shearer's didn't we rosemary
Graeme Trusler
I know this place so well having been there as recently at 2017. But in 1944 to 1946 I lived in Ikamatua, 6 miles away from Waipuna and I knew the Ferguson Family, George and Gordon very well. Gordon went to Waitaki Boys High and when he came home he headed for our place in Ikamatua. We had some great times together as youths in those days. This house is heritage listed and was built around 1881.
Ed Drapkin
I had the fortuneof meeting two of the Ferguson family in 1985. This place is absolutely a treasure. We got to go there a few times most recently in 2017. It is unique and a treasure. When we go back in a few years, it will be a must see. To see a paddock with hundreds of red deer, paddocks of sheep and wapti is beyond imagination. It is more than a treasure.
Rosemary Horne
We used to stay in this house when we were shearing there. We called it Possum Palace. Great memories
Dorothy Wills
We were there a time or two when George Ferguson owned it
Ray Deo
Needs a kick of paint
Rose Ferguson
great times there with our family david brother of george
Tracey Anderson
Shari Ferguson
Shari Ferguson
yes saw that it’s cool eh
Susan Johnstone Lord
Heritage listed and needing some tlc
Esther Barkman Knopp
I'm struck by how similar it is to a house near where I live that the council restored. https://www.glenside.org.nz/halfway-house.html
Halfway House FAQ
GLENSIDE.ORG.NZ
Halfway House FAQ
Halfway House FAQ
Phil Wright
That first whare was thatched manuka it would keep out the rain if you weave it in tight,but it's a fire risk,but in 1862 the Coast would be the wild West,miners got to have food and grog!
Daniel Cresswell
Any plans for a historical restoration?
Anne Brown
Wonderful history of this time,family and house.
Rory Paterson
What happened to the Mackley family?
Helen Nolan
Tis a grand old home, loved looking thru it a few yrs back, so much history of the Ferguson family
Barbara Barry Gerrard
So much history now derelict. It's always a shame. And most will never know.
Kevin O'Regan
A monument to tenacity and adventure.
Andy Nelson
Awesome. It is my hopes that a restoration saves such a beautiful peice of history.
Toni Michelle
Omg looks abit like the Waltons house
Paula Smith
I went to a New Year’s Eve party there once with Jim and Jocelyn Ferguson from Waitaha. People were singing “Irene, good night” and little Irene Ferguson, who was a toddler then, her eyes lit up! She thought everyone was singing to her.
Greta Gordon
From the book "The Diggers Story" by Carl J Pfaff - about Captain Henry Jacobsen: In March, 1862, I was chartered by Mr Mackley to take him, his family, and stores to the Grey River... I assisted Mr Mackley to take his stores by the river to his place at Waipuna, about 45 miles from the Grey. Mr Mackley's house, which measured 40ft by 30ft, was made out of Manuka poles and bark, and took 8 days to build.
Les Holmes Germanicus
I remember suggesting the old homestead's restoration to Ken Ferguson when I worked with him on the memorial kiosk mural project years back and turning it into a fishing lodge, but it was considered too expensive.
14h
Reply
Lydia Ìdã Benner
I’ve always thought it looks haunted?
22h
Reply
Daniel Cresswell
Any plans for a historical restoration?
Linny Bennett
Hoping that it can be restored. Have visited a few times. Waipuna was always mentioned in our family. (Olive Butler my Nan).
Tessa Cai Halmshaw
Justine Kerr
Pete Lusk
The Mackley/Orikaka River comes into the Buller opposite Whitecliffs. It’s named after the same family.
Pete Lusk
I met a Mackley descendent in Auckland…and another climbs active volcanos and makes docos.
Vee Wilson
Amazing!
Dahl Stuart
Guess it was too expensive to maintain.
I was very fortunate to nurse one of the Mackley descendants in my tine at Seaview .Ray mackley was quiet but a total gentleman. he always asked for a new brown suit for Xmas.
Bob Laing
When reading the first article I thought the property was George’s. I think you will find George’s full name is George Mackley Ferguson who was on and I think became the Chair of the West Coast Catchment Board. I lived in Ross in the early 1950s and I got my first dog from either George or his father when they farmed at Ferguson’s Bush, south of Ross.
What an interesting two articles. Thank you Tony K.
Peter Robertson
Bob Laing George did buy it. And being a Mackley descendant,through his mother,the farm is still in the hands of Samuel Mackley's descendants.
Bob Laing
Peter Robertson
Thanks for that
Bob Laing
George’s brother was Mack Ferguson. Mack shortened from Mackley.
Julian Tyerman
It would be a shame to see it disappear considering its still in some sort of form
Robin Gibbens
Great piece of West coast history, shame to see the house going to ruin
Maree Thwaites
I spent many hours playing in that old house as a kid. The best playhut. Lisa Richardson Sue Martin
Sue Martin
Maree Thwaites sure was!
Matthew Alexander
What a shame it was never rebuilt would of looked gd
Sandra Wylie
Fiona Bisphan Kerry Messervy had some good memories at Waipuna
Kerry Messervy
Sandra Wylie don't remember that building, pinky the cow, & Jimmy the Horse & Dad getting kicked in the head. The big Balls used to scare the crap out of me when it was beside my bike after getting off the school bus. Going down to see Dad when he was doing the kill & put the slops in the pit.
Ada Milne
I thought Jim was at Ferguson bush south of Ross he lived there till he pass away
Bob Laing
Ada Milne
Was Jim the father or another brother?
That is where we got the dog and I thought it was from George.
John Flattery-donohoe
Ada Milne do you mean waitaha valley
Belinda Ferguson
That view though Katrina Anderson
Katrina Anderson
Belinda Ferguson most magic place. Etched in our minds forever.
Jamie Dench
What an amazing place! Where is this located?
Sam Win
We used to stay in the house as shearing quarter's in the early 70s magic house a lot of history
Geoff Crook
Sam Win Back in the good ol days ay Sam
Sam Win
Geoff Crook right on some great parties to ☺
Lynette Campbell
Sam Win yes I remember staying there to we cooked for the Shearer's didn't we rosemary
Graeme Trusler
I know this place so well having been there as recently at 2017. But in 1944 to 1946 I lived in Ikamatua, 6 miles away from Waipuna and I knew the Ferguson Family, George and Gordon very well. Gordon went to Waitaki Boys High and when he came home he headed for our place in Ikamatua. We had some great times together as youths in those days. This house is heritage listed and was built around 1881.
Ed Drapkin
I had the fortuneof meeting two of the Ferguson family in 1985. This place is absolutely a treasure. We got to go there a few times most recently in 2017. It is unique and a treasure. When we go back in a few years, it will be a must see. To see a paddock with hundreds of red deer, paddocks of sheep and wapti is beyond imagination. It is more than a treasure.
Rosemary Horne
We used to stay in this house when we were shearing there. We called it Possum Palace. Great memories
Dorothy Wills
We were there a time or two when George Ferguson owned it
Ray Deo
Needs a kick of paint
Rose Ferguson
great times there with our family david brother of george
Tracey Anderson
Shari Ferguson
Shari Ferguson
yes saw that it’s cool eh
Susan Johnstone Lord
Heritage listed and needing some tlc
Esther Barkman Knopp
I'm struck by how similar it is to a house near where I live that the council restored. https://www.glenside.org.nz/halfway-house.html
Halfway House FAQ
GLENSIDE.ORG.NZ
Halfway House FAQ
Halfway House FAQ
Phil Wright
That first whare was thatched manuka it would keep out the rain if you weave it in tight,but it's a fire risk,but in 1862 the Coast would be the wild West,miners got to have food and grog!
Daniel Cresswell
Any plans for a historical restoration?
Anne Brown
Wonderful history of this time,family and house.
Rory Paterson
What happened to the Mackley family?
Helen Nolan
Tis a grand old home, loved looking thru it a few yrs back, so much history of the Ferguson family
Barbara Barry Gerrard
So much history now derelict. It's always a shame. And most will never know.
Kevin O'Regan
A monument to tenacity and adventure.
Andy Nelson
Awesome. It is my hopes that a restoration saves such a beautiful peice of history.
Toni Michelle
Omg looks abit like the Waltons house
Paula Smith
I went to a New Year’s Eve party there once with Jim and Jocelyn Ferguson from Waitaha. People were singing “Irene, good night” and little Irene Ferguson, who was a toddler then, her eyes lit up! She thought everyone was singing to her.
Greta Gordon
From the book "The Diggers Story" by Carl J Pfaff - about Captain Henry Jacobsen: In March, 1862, I was chartered by Mr Mackley to take him, his family, and stores to the Grey River... I assisted Mr Mackley to take his stores by the river to his place at Waipuna, about 45 miles from the Grey. Mr Mackley's house, which measured 40ft by 30ft, was made out of Manuka poles and bark, and took 8 days to build.
Les Holmes Germanicus
I remember suggesting the old homestead's restoration to Ken Ferguson when I worked with him on the memorial kiosk mural project years back and turning it into a fishing lodge, but it was considered too expensive.
14h
Reply
Lydia Ìdã Benner
I’ve always thought it looks haunted?
22h
Reply
Daniel Cresswell
Any plans for a historical restoration?
Linny Bennett
Hoping that it can be restored. Have visited a few times. Waipuna was always mentioned in our family. (Olive Butler my Nan).
Tessa Cai Halmshaw
Justine Kerr
Pete Lusk
The Mackley/Orikaka River comes into the Buller opposite Whitecliffs. It’s named after the same family.
Pete Lusk
I met a Mackley descendent in Auckland…and another climbs active volcanos and makes docos.
Vee Wilson
Amazing!
Dahl Stuart
Guess it was too expensive to maintain.
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West Coast New Zealand History (20th Apr 2025). Mackley Homestead Waipuna. - ALBUM - . In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 8th Apr 2026 05:11, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/30189