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Blossoming property seeks visionary owner

Michelle Vollemaere

A 5.6ha property that is home to New Zealand’s largest collection of mature, ornamental flowering cherry trees, attracting thousands of visitors each spring, is for sale.

Aston Norwood Gardens in Kaitoke, north of Upper Hutt, was established in 1994 when owners Mark and Fiona Rammell acquired a former dairy farm and set about transforming the bare paddocks into gardens, a plant nursery and garden centre, wedding and function venue, cafe, and guest accommodation.

Inspired by a visit to the Japanese city of Kyoto, they planted avenues of 350 flowering cherry trees and today the mass plantings with their striking soft pink blossom are the star of the show.

The property is based on a Japanese garden theme, with landscape and water features and thousands of maples, rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias in formal and semiformal plantings, and a protected bird community.

Held in two separate titles, Aston Norwood is located on a busy and highly visible site at 1747 and 1757 State Highway 2, Kaitoke.

Aston Norwood’s land, buildings and multiple business offerings are being sold with vacant possession, and include the function centre and cafe incorporating a three-bedroom apartment, along with five selfcontained chalets and a fourbedroom home.

The Aston Norwood Nursery focuses on growing plants suited to the Wellington region, and the centre also provides landscaping and garden design services.

Bhakti Mistry of Bayleys Wellington Commercial said the Rammells were motivated vendors who, having owned the property for 28 years, were seeking a change

of direction.

‘‘With all the fundamental infrastructure and beautifullyestablished gardens providing a stellar foundation, a forwardthinking owner-occupier could take the property and its various business strands to the next level,’’ Mistry said.

‘‘We believe an owner-operator will think with their heart as well as their head when viewing this property – and it is easy to see it as a forever home, work and income opportunity.’’

In addition to the existing businesses, extra promotions such as the spring Blossom Valley event,

and the Blossom Valley After Dark experience see thousands of visitors through the gates.

The substantial Europeanstyled function and cafe was a destination in itself, but could also be expanded under fresh ownership, Mistry said.

‘‘As the property is being sold

without operational leases in place, there is real potential there to reinvigorate the offering, and with forward bookings for more than 10 weddings, a new owner could hit the ground running with an established base to springboard off.’’

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2022-12-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-12-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

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