Home away from Home | Accrington Farmhouse, Aotearoa / NZ

↑ Several generations of owner Hamish’s family have called Accrington home. In 2015, Hamish and Annabel Craw took on the project of restoring Accrington, turning it into a family home and welcoming their three young children. Four years ago the family moved to another house on the farm, providing the opportunity to turn Accrington into hosted accommodation.

↑ The beautiful floral scent notes of Southern Wild Co’s Sirens echo the fragrance of the garden outside. Sirens celebrates the coming together of indigenous flora and introduced flora and Accrington Farmhouse garden has a long history of this mix of gardening ever since it was established

↑ The tranquil farmhouse is surrounded by breathtaking views in all directions.

↑ The garden at Accrington is quite a feature and something the guests fall in love with. We always have fresh flowers from the garden dotted around the rooms and is one of the favourite parts of preparing the house for guests.

↑ Nestled amongst dramatic coastal cliffs, wild native bush and iconic pastoral ridges, Accrington Farmhouse is a place to experience the raw and natural beauty of Banks Peninsula. Just 35 minutes drive from the seaside town of Akaroa, a cruise on the harbour with Akaroa Dolphins is a magical experience.

↑ Spaces are thoughtfully decorated with mostly vintage and secondhand furniture that match the style of the house to create a warm lived in effect. The Akaroa Butchery & Deli is a favourite to stock up on local gourmet provisions to enjoy back at The Farmhouse.

↑ Bedrooms are adorned with quality french linen and woollen blankets. Hot water bottles are a welcome addition in winter with covers knitted by local ladies in natural homespun yarn. The colours and textures echo those from the surrounding garden and complement the natural, native timber finishes throughout the house.

Accrington Farmhouse, a historic gem built in 1867 by Robert and Jane Shuttleworth, has stood as a testament to family heritage and community spirit for over a century.

Nestled in the tiny settlement of Chorlton, 90 minutes from Christchurch New Zealand, this charming homestead, named after a town in Lancashire, England, has witnessed countless stories and milestones. From serving as the first post office in the settlement to being lovingly restored by the descendants of its original owners, Accrington has evolved into a welcoming home and a serene getaway. Today, it offers guests a chance to experience the warmth and history of a family farm, with beautifully decorated interiors and lush gardens that echo the timeless beauty of the surrounding landscape. Join us as we explore the rich history, thoughtful restoration, and inviting charm of Accrington Farmhouse.

What is the story behind Accrington Farmhouse? If the walls could talk, what would they say?

Accrington Farmhouse was built in 1867 by my husband's great great great grandparents Robert and Jane Shuttleworth, who arrived from England in 1860. The house is named after a town in their home country of Lancashire. Given Robert and Jane raised 10 children in Accrington and they also opened the first Post Office in the house for our little settlement of Chorlton, I can only imagine the comings and goings that went on between the walls of Accrington. No doubt it would have been the first place to hear any exciting news or events of the district!

Several generations of Hamishs family have since called Accrington home and in 2015 we took on the project of restoring Accrington, turning it into our family home and welcoming our 3 young children. Four years ago we moved to another house on the farm, providing the opportunity to turn Accrington into hosted accommodation.

A home is made of interesting layers and thoughtful touches. How did you go about decorating Accrington Farmhouse and making a home away from home for others?

Accrington Farmhouse is about giving guests the feeling that they are coming to stay on the family farm. We wanted it to feel inviting, relaxing and homely. The interiors have evolved overtime, some of the furniture we left when we moved out as it was so suited to the house and as time has gone by and we have renovated more spaces we have added more to the house. When decorating the spaces we sourced mostly vintage and secondhand furniture to match the style of the house and give it a lovely warm lived in effect. Each bedroom has lovely french linen quilts and woolen blankets, we have hot water bottles on the beds in winter which have been knitted by local ladies in natural homespun yarn. The colours and textures echo those from the surrounding garden and focus on emphasising all the lovely native timber finishes throughout the house.

We are fortunate to have some amazing historic photos of the house and farm life and we have framed them in vintage oak frames and hung them around the house which tells a visual story of the history of the home and area, which guests really connect with.

The garden at The Farmhouse is quite a feature and something the guests fall in love with. We always have fresh flowers from the garden dotted around the rooms and is one of the favourite parts of preparing the house for guests.

Where do you recommend your guests visit for local experiences that appeal to the heart, mind, eyes and belly?

We encourage guests to stop off at Little River Cafe and Art Gallery on their way over, it is about halfway between Christchurch and the farm and is the perfect stop for lunch before arriving at The Farmhouse and features wonderful artist and exhibitions. The Okains Bay Museum holds a truly unique collection of nationally significant taonga Mori and early Pkeh items and heritage buildings, providing a fascinating insight into early Banks Peninsula and New Zealand history and is 15 minutes from the farm.

We are 35 minutes from the seaside town of Akaroa and a cruise on the harbour with Akaroa Dolphins is a magical experience. The Akaroa Butchery & Deli is a favourite to stock up on local gourmet provisions to enjoy back at The Farmhouse. One of our favourite restaurants is Ma Maison on the waterfront in Akaroa, best of all they will even cater for you at The Farmhouse if you dont want to leave!

What is your favourite time of day, your favourite season, and your favourite spot at Accrington Farmhouse?

My favourite time of the day at Accrington Farmhouse is mid morning on the front kitchen verandah. I have such wonderful memories of morning teas with the farming team and young children when we were living there. We have big sliding windows that open up along the length of the kitchen bench out to the verandah. You make your morning hot drink, prepare some morning tea and settle into thevcane chairs looking out across the garden. The Kerer (native wood pigeons) swoop by, the bird song is glorious, and in the distance you can see the paddocks, sheep and cattle yards and woolshed.

My favourite season at Accrington Farmhouse is Autumn, because of all the autumn colours in the garden, the sun is lower and the pace of life starts to slow. The Farmhouse is located in a little valley with good water so we can grow deciduous trees unlike the rest of the farm which is too exposed to the elements. So it gives you a real sense of changing seasons.

What rituals make you feel at home, wherever you may be in the world?

A hot drink made with love makes me feel at home anywhere.

Which Southern Wild Co scent is the perfect fit for Accrington Farmhouse and why?

Sirens is the perfect match for Accrington Farmhouse. It brings the fragrance of the garden inside, I love how it has beautiful floral tones in an understated and neutral way. Sirens also celebrates the coming together of indigenous flora and introduced flora and Accrington Farmhouse garden has a long history of this mix of gardening ever since it was established.

‘Home’ – a poem

by Dawn Ferguson (Great Great Granddaughter of Robert & Jane Shuttleworth who built Accrington Farmhouse)

My thoughts return to Chorlton
Because my heart is there
To leave behind the city sounds
And breath the cool fresh air
I want to smell the sea again
And hear the magpies sing
To wander up the View Hill road
And feel the peace it brings
Recalling farming seasons past
The ups the downs the flow
I want to find that magic place
Where all my memories go.

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Discover Accrington Farmhouse here.
Discover Sirens here.