Anvil was founded by blacksmith George Bowler in 1880, a time when iron was forged with strength and sweat, laying the foundation of a legacy etched into the landscape. That history lives in Bowler Cottage, constructed circa 1880, devastated by fire in 2015, and reborn as an architecturally crafted stone cottage that honours its past while meeting every demand of the present.
What sets Anvil apart from every other lifestyle property in the Queenstown basin is not just its character, but also its income and infrastructure.
Both cottages operate under QLDC Visitor Accommodation consent RM260238, granting 365-day short-stay operation for up to six guests. This consent is rare. Most competing operators in the district are capped at 90 x nights per year. At Anvil, there is no cap. The consent transfers with the property, making it one of the most defensible competitive advantages in the Queenstown short-stay marke. Both cottages outperform the Queenstown STR market average on key metrics including occupancy, daily rate, and annual revenue. A buyer acquires an operating business with a track record. Beyond the cottages, a 90m² workshop and showroom holds a commercial consent, and future uses could include a gallery, café, bike hire, retail or home occupation, representing additional unpriced income potential not included in the headline figures. A consented building platform at the rear of the site allows for a further 70m² residential addition.
The property sits on 5,065m² of established grounds with mature oak, chestnut and walnut trees, a small orchard, and a spring-fed water supply. A four-bay garage, carport, and generous parking serve both residential and commercial needs. The Kawarau Gorge trail runs past the frontage. A swimming hole on the Arrow River is a short walk away. Arrowtown is five minutes away and Queenstown Airport is twenty minutes.
Anvil is a rare asset: a heritage property with genuine character, a proven and growing income stream, and regulatory consent enabling significant upside. Properties of this combination are tightly held and do not come to market often.
