1905 Vicarage Finds New Life in Artist Haven

A 120-year-old vicarage that once sheltered a gospel-spreading vicar and his flag-watching housekeeper is looking for someone who will treasure its next century of stories.

The home at 40 Yarborough Street in Kohukohu, New Zealand, was built around 1905 to house the vicar of St Mary's Anglican and Methodist church. Back then, the vicar would travel by boat across Hokianga Harbour to reach remote communities, raising a flag as he approached home so his housekeeper could prepare dinner.

Today, the village of Kohukohu has transformed from a bustling commercial center of 2,000 people to a peaceful creative haven of just 180 residents. The change has brought writers, painters, sculptors, and ceramicists who've discovered something special in this subtropical corner of New Zealand's North Island.

The vicarage has been lovingly restored while keeping its soul intact. High ceilings, original kauri floorboards, and French doors remain, all painted in heritage custard yellow and rich red. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a farmhouse kitchen, and a studio space behind the garage offer room for both living and creating.

Outside, the subtropical climate has blessed the property with bananas, guava, grapes, figs, nectarines, peaches, and plums. A courtyard with an outdoor fire oven provides the perfect spot for gathering as evening settles in.

The Ripple Effect

Kohukohu's transformation into an artist colony shows what happens when creative souls find sanctuary. St Mary's church next door now hosts not just Sunday services but tai chi, yoga classes, weddings, and tangi. The village supports a gym in the original schoolhouse, a café, a pub, a community art gallery, a volunteer library, and a vintage store.

The area has become a dark sky sanctuary where planes rarely pass overhead and stars shine brilliantly. Locals describe it as what Waiheke Island felt like in the 1980s, before development changed its character.

Real estate agent Sarah Brandt calls it "a very nurturing little place" where people care deeply about nature and community. The current owner, heartbroken to leave for work in Auckland, has been told by locals: "If Hokianga wants you back, you'll be back anyway."

The vicarage is listed at $559,000, slightly above its 2022 valuation but well above the village's median price of $390,641. Buyers from Auckland, a four-and-a-half-hour drive away, have already shown interest.

For someone seeking quiet, creativity, and connection to a century of stories, this little vicarage is ready to welcome its next custodian home.