Scott Homestead
Scott Homestead
Thomas Scott senior had earlier established a boat building operation nearby, during the 1840s. He subsequently built an inn, the Richmond Arms, on the site of the present homestead. The inn was destroyed by fire and later replaced by the present building, which also operated as a private hotel and boarding house.
Scott's hotel did not have road access, and visitors today might wonder why a hotel was built in such an isolated location. However it was established at a time when the Mahurangi was a hub of shipbuilding and timber milling activity.
Excursions by steamer from Auckland to places like Waiwera, Kawau Island, and the Mahurangi were also popular before motorised transport became widely available. Privacy was obviously not one of the attractions of the hotel - the partitions between the upstairs rooms are only one board thick!
Scott Homestead today
Scott Homestead was extensively restored between 1972 and 1991 by members of the Civic Trust, who put in hundreds of hours of voluntary work to save the neglected building from demolition. Today the homestead is part of Mahurangi Regional Park. It is available for use for meetings and functions, and the grounds may be booked for weddings (under special conditions).
Getting there:
Scott Homestead is located at Scott Point in Mahurangi Regional Park. Take the Warkworth - Sandspit Road to Snells Beach. Approximately 1km past Snells Beach, turn right into Ridge Road and go to the Scotts Landing carpark at the end of the road.
The homestead is accessed by foot along the boardwalk or the foreshore. Visitors are welcome to view the building and grounds, but the homestead is only opened for booked users or by special arrangement. Limited vehicle access can also be arranged for booked users only.
For further information or bookings contact us at the ARC on 09 366 2000 or email parks@arc.govt.nz
Please enjoy your visit, but respect private property rights (where applicable) and do not disturb, damage or remove any part of the site.
