South Star

The planets aligned to give this family of five their chance to create a light, bright homestead in Queenstown

- Catherine Steel

South Islanders Justine and Carrick McLellan have always loved Queenstown’s majestic mountains and stunning natural scenery. But although they wanted their kids, Fletcher, Carter and baby Milla, to grow up in such a beautiful place, the couple weren’t sure they’d ever be able to afford a proper family home in the booming area.

The McLellans, who previously owned a house in Lake Hayes, were also keen to start from scratch and create a purpose-built home. Despite their doubts about affordability, they kept looking and heard about a new subdivision 15 minutes’ drive from central Queenstown. One visit showed them it was the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity they’d been waiting for.

They found an 800-square-metre section that fitted their brief perfectly and bought it in 2014. “It has amazing views that can’t be built out,” Justine says. “The daycare and primary school are a short walk away from our doorstep, and there is a high school being built nearby. Even though our home is private and feels secluded, we are part of a family-focused area where a lot of our friends and their children live.”

GETTING IT RIGHT

Once Justine and Carrick secured their section, they started thinking about the look of their new house and how they wanted it to sit on the land. Although the couple were buying as part of a new subdivision, they were allowed to design the house themselves rather than choosing from pre-drawn plans. “The building consultant was good to us, guiding us as we put together our ideas and vision,” Justine says.