Originally 9 brothers (missionaries) set up the vineyard. They had had quite a bit of bad luck since arriving in New Zealand, having been refused entry where they originally landed and told to sail down to Hawkes bay, they were actually dropped off in the wrong place. Not knowing they weren't in Hawke's bay they set themselves up, planted the vineyards etc until they were found out and asked to move to where they were supposed to be. So instead of leaving everything behind they dug up what plants they had and carried everything with them for their 100km walk to Hawke's Bay. Once they arrived they set up again and were pretty happy until the earthquake in 1931 which left the house standing but the chapel had fallen. Soon after the earthquake there were floods which affected the house, however, not to be put off by their misfortune they decided that the house needed to be on the top of the hill instead of at the bottom so, they borrowed a saw and cut the house into 11 pieces and with the aid of a steam traction engine, pulled each piece to the top of the hill and reconstructed the house. Not before adding a foyer in the centre to make it slightly larger. And there it has stood since. Pretty impressive eh?