Gear Homestead

Gear Homestead is a Victorian residential building in Porirua set on Okowai Road, featuring two stories with weatherboard cladding throughout its structure. The walls contain sawdust filling that provided natural insulation from the region's cold winds.

Construction of the residence was completed in 1887 for James Gear, founder of a major meat processing and freezing business in New Zealand. The family retained ownership of the property for more than 80 years before it passed to other hands.

The homestead displays Victorian architecture crafted from native matai, totara, and kauri wood, showing the skilled work of local builders in the 1800s. Visitors can observe how wealthy industrial families chose premium materials to construct their homes during that era.

The property operates as a cafe, bar, and restaurant open every day of the week for visitor use. You can explore the homestead while enjoying refreshments in a historic setting from New Zealand's industrial era.

The property served as a filming location for director Peter Jackson's debut film in the 1980s. This site became part of the story of how New Zealand emerged on the world stage for cinema production.