Designed in 1867 by one of New Zealand's pre-eminent nineteenth century architects, R.A. Lawson, for his brother-in-law James Paterson Hepburn’s Brooklands estate, this Scottish baronial-style residence is a landmark building at Goodwood, North Otago. Brooklands homestead has architectural significance as an example of Lawson’s residential designs and historical significance for its association with the early Brooklands farm.

Scottish-born merchant William Dalrymple took up land at Goodwood in 1854. Shortly afterwards, in 1856, he set his sights on being a runholder and offered Brooklands (as he called the estate) for sale – 410 acres [166 hectares] of open land, 100 acres [40 hectares] of timbered land, a ‘comfortable Dwelling-house’ and a ‘Labourers Cottage.’ In 1857, George Hepburn (1803-1883) bought Brooklands for his sons James and George. Hepburn brought his wife and family of eight from Fifeshire to Dunedin in 1850, becoming a prominent businessman, churchman and politician. George Hepburn’s letters mention ‘[t]here is also a very good dwelling house, weather boarded and lined, consisting of three rooms below and four small bedrooms above. There is also a very good clay house at a little distance for the men servants. Indeed a very great deal of work has been done during the last two years, the proprietor fancying it to be a homestead for him and his family.’ George and James moved in and set about erecting new farm buildings, including a stone barn in 1859 (Register No. 5228).

James Hepburn commissioned R.A. Lawson to design a new residence. Lawson advertised for tenders in January 1867. The house was one-and-a-half storeys, with five small bedrooms on the first floor, and two living rooms with a lean-to kitchen, scullery and bathroom on the ground floor. In style, Brooklands House is similar to Lawson’s Park’s School in Dunedin (Register No. 2172). Built of locally quarried limestone, the ‘elegant and substantial house’ was later rough cast. The roof was slate (later replaced with corrugated iron).

The Hepburn boys did not get to live long lives at Brooklands. George Hepburn Junior died at Brooklands in 1862, David Hepburn in 1870 and James Paterson Hepburn in 1875. The youngest brother Andrew and his wife Janet lived at Brooklands in the early years of their marriage until around 1878. After James’ death, Brooklands was put up for sale. The sale notice described the estate: ‘together with the improvements, consisting of a substantially built two-storey Stone Dwelling House, Stone Barn, large Stable, &c.’ James Kilgour bought and leased Brooklands to his son Alexander. The farm was subdivided in 1906 – the plan showing the homestead surrounded by hedges, and near to the house, a shed and a stable. Closer to the road are a cow byre, yards and stable. In 1907, Frank McCallum bought the homestead block. Brooklands remained in the McCallum family until around 1984. The house was known locally as ‘The Castle’. When Duncan McCallum died the property was sold. In 2014, Brooklands House remains a private residence.