Timaru’s Kingsdown Manor’s has new owners with plenty of new ideas

Part of a manor on the outskirts of Timaru has returned to bed and breakfast accommodation, with the property’s new North Island owners testing the waters to see how other ideas they have for the place go.

Cambridge couple Melissa and Greg Coles moved into the $1.3 million, 6936sqm Kingsdown Manor on Bristol Rd, south of Timaru several months ago, purchasing it from Paul and Kit Davis.

Greg said the couple thinks the manor’s previous owners have done a great job in building a name for the place in the community over the years – now they want to “refine a few things’’ and bring their personality to the place.

“We have a few ideas that we are testing to see the feedback we receive. Once we are ready, we hope Timaru and the greater area will be pleased and surprised,’’ he said.

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There is also a plan to integrate Melissa’s all-organic and natural skin care business, Ivy and Ash, into the manor in the future.

“It’s not going to be a short stay,” he said.

The couple have turned a master bedroom, which has its own lounge and is not part of the main house, into a bed and breakfast and Melissa said it would be a few months before they decide what to do with the rest of the property.

“We have a few ideas for the place,” Melissa said.

“We’re doing up a big room in the main house, and we plan to serve breakfast in the turret room. People will have a beautiful view of the landscape and beyond from the turret.

“The B and B is separate from the main house, and we’ll be serving a continental breakfast there.”

The couple have previously owned a B and B in Cambridge and are working hard to renovate the rest of Kingsdown Manor and make it available to the public.

“We saw Kingsdown Manor and thought this business would be good for us, and we have moved closer to family as well.

“We heard from friends that Timaru was a lovely place. We’re really enjoying it so far.”

She said the couple wanted to keep the property “for the people’’.

Melissa said the pair have been adjusting to the cold weather in Timaru after shifting from the North Island and are slowly getting to things around the manor.

They are also considering making the main hall on the property available for small events and Melissa said any feedback and ideas from the Timaru community would be appreciated.