Picture Elmstone. A grand English Renaissance-style mansion. It stands proudly in Remuera Auckland. Built in 1909-10 by Victor John Larner. A prominent lawyer and businessman. He wanted to make a statement. A statement of gracious living.
Elmstone was more than just a house. It was a symbol of Auckland’s thriving economy. Its castle-like upper level. A glimpse above the surrounding houses. It boasted crenellated bay windows. Rusticated quoins. Heavy cornices. It looked like a grand medieval residence.
Inside. A billiard room. A card room. A lounge. A drawing room. A breakfast room. A dining room. The Larner family lived a life of luxury.
The gardens were magnificent. One of Auckland’s most notably beautiful floral displays. Massed mauve and purple violas and pansies. Stocks in pink and dull red. A true oasis.
Sadly. After Larner’s death in 1955 the land was subdivided. Elmstone became a rest home then a private residence again. It has seen many changes. Many renovations.
The original gates still stand. At the corner of Orakei Road. A silent sentinel guarding the memory of Elmstone’s glory days. A reminder of Victor John Larner’s legacy. A legacy of elegance and grandeur. A legacy that still echoes in this beautiful Auckland suburb. The spirit of Elmstone lives on. Even in the modern apartments that now occupy its former grounds. The echoes of laughter and elegant parties linger. A timeless testament to a bygone era.