The property now known as Beaufort House, Akaroa, was originally built in 1878 and named The Wilderness by its owners, George and Marianne Nalder. The Nalders had emigrated from England approximately a decade earlier, and George Nalder practised as a barrister and solicitor in Akaroa. They selected a five-acre site on the sunny side of Grehan Valley and established a substantial residence and ornamental garden setting, reflecting Victorian ideals of domestic landscape design.

The house has remained in continuous residential and hospitality use since the late nineteenth century and now operates as Beaufort House, a boutique accommodation property, retaining strong associations with Akaroa’s early European settlement period. This fine tree is believed to have been planted circa 1880, consistent with the early development of the property and its gardens (Hammer, J.T., 2026).

Reference:
Beaufort House Akaroa. (n.d.). B&B rich in history and luxury – History. www.beauforthouse.co.nz/about-us/history