Revamping the Vicarage

Words:  Pattie Pegler

Images: Supplied

When Michael and Brigitte Barker bought the Vicarage in Geraldine in 2017 – they knew that restoring a heritage building was a big undertaking. And they were under no illusion about their expertise in the area.

“We didn’t rate ourselves, we were very concerned that we were inexperienced at heritage renovations,” says Michael candidly.

But they also saw potential and realised this was a bit of heritage that mattered - for the town and the community. So rather than ‘running for the hills’ they decided to take on the challenge.

The project took two years and today the Vicarage operates as boutique accommodation situated next to the Barkers eatery and shop in the centre of Geraldine. It has recently been awarded a Qualmark Five Star Gold rating and is proving popular with locals and international visitors alike. But back in 2017 it had fallen into disrepair and the last resident vicar had moved out in 2000.

From the outset Brigitte and Michael wanted to bring the history to life and bring the Vicarage, with all its heritage, into the modern day. They had the support of the church and the local community – but they knew they would need some expert help too.  

“We consciously said right we haven’t done this before so we need to get a really good team,” says Michael. They drew up a list of the help they would need – everything from an architect to interior designer, structural engineer to builder and a lot more in between. And before the project could start there were resource consents, building consents and other paperwork to deal with.

An archaeologist on site supervised any ground digging, in case they should happen upon an old burial ground or significant remains. But in fact, says Michael, mostly they just found ‘knick knacks’ that had belonged to daughters of the previous resident vicars. And when the tongue in groove ceilings were investigated they found old newspapers from the early 1900s, covered in sawdust as a form of insulation – there were articles on the Boer War, the bubonic plague and advertisements for Ballantyes ladieswear. 

It is slices of history like this that have helped to put a context around the Vicarage. “We wanted to put things in place that told a story,” says Brigitte.  So the newspaper pieces have been framed and are on display in the Vicarage. Michael also researched and wrote a one page biography on each of the 17 vicars that had called the building home. “Those are also a social history of Geraldine too,” he explains. “The first ones used horses and then as the roads improved they were on bicycles.”

Details are just as important in the interior scheme. Key factors like the stunning timber panelling in the entry hall had to stay. Whilst some elements such as cornices and ceiling rosettes were added.

“I am a bit of a colour freak,” confesses Brigitte who drew on her passion and knowledge of interior décor and worked closely with a Christchurch-based interior designer to choose appropriate wallpapers and colour schemes. 

 Now visitors step into an entry hall dominated by original timber panelling, stained glass windows and modern chandeliers. A striking wallpaper, Ardmore Savuti, from Coles & Sons begins up the stairway perfectly melding into an upstairs hallways painted in Resene Green Meets Blue.  Wallpaper and colour are also prominent in the rooms – but never overwhelming. Modern bathrooms and all the comforts meld perfectly with the heritage building.

“We weren’t trying to create a period reproduction of an older building,” says Michael. “The new doesn’t try to be old. There’s a modern twist.”

On the first night of opening Michael and Brigitte invited friends and family to stay in the Vicarage – with the instruction that they all had to give feedback on the experience. It was an excellent way to identify any last snagging issues and carry on that customary attention to detail.  

They are hands on - at one point Brigitte was cleaning rooms and Michael carries out regular maintenance. The couple joke about having created a 24/7 job for themselves in ‘semi-retirement’ – and the project continues. They want to build up their occupancy at the Vicarage but also to help promote the picturesque town they call home.

“The town has been overwhelmingly supportive the whole way along,” says Brigitte.

“It’s ongoing, now we want to help create a hub in Geraldine. Destination Geraldine,” adds Michael.

That sounds like a pretty busy ‘semi-retirement’. But with their customary enthusiasm – they’re clearly up for the challenge.