Set behind century-old trees and a sweeping driveway, Riverina stands proudly above Warkworth - a magnificent Italianate villa whose timeless silhouette has captured local imagination for generations.
Built in 1901 by pioneering industrialist Nathaniel Wilson, founder of Wilson’s Cement Works, Riverina was designed to impress - her symmetry, deep verandahs, and solid rendered walls reflecting an era of vision and permanence. During the Second World War, she served as an army headquarters, later a hostel in the 1950s, before being lovingly restored and reinforced in 1969 by Ronald and Beverley Simmons, whose care preserved her grace for decades to come.
Now, as the boards are lifted from her windows and sunlight once again floods her generous rooms, a new chapter begins. Inside, soaring ceilings, ornate mouldings, polished kauri floors, and finely crafted joinery frame elegant living spaces that flow through to a traditional farmhouse kitchen. A sweeping staircase connects to the upper level, where three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a study or nursery overlook her stately grounds, lawns and surrounding hills.
Set across 5.8 hectares with an adjoining 2.9-hectare title, the property offers privacy, scale, and remarkable potential. Whether envisioned as a grand family home, boutique accommodation, elegant venue, or lifestyle development in harmony with its heritage, Riverina presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to be part of New Zealand’s living history.
Within walking distance of Warkworth township, the Parry Kauri Museum, and the beloved freshwater swimming hole known locally as “The Kilns,” This location offers both beauty and connection – just moments from the motorway link to Auckland.
Riverina holds a rare place in local history - a living landmark, ready to be reimagined for generations to come.