Whareview, a substantial house built in timber and brick in two stages, stands as a reminder of the significance of Lawrence as the county seat in the nineteenth century. The house has historical and architectural significance, and is associated with several prominent Lawrence citizens.

The land was first granted to George Liston and Arthur Henderson in 1867. The first title was issued to Timaru contractor Alexander Humphrey (d. 1902) in 1879. It does not appear that Henderson or Liston built on the land, as the sections are advertised for sale at the end of 1870, ‘securely fenced and sown in oats, and planted with fruit trees and a choice selection of trees and shrubs.’ Though not shown on the title, Francis Nicoll owned the land in the 1870s, applying for it to be brought into the land transfer system in 1879. He built a residence on an adjoining section in 1877. It is possible that Humphrey may have built a house on the section, though he was to leave the district around 1879.

Engineer William Smaill (1840-1905) bought the property in 1880. Scottish-born Smaill trained as a civil engineer and was appointed District Engineer of Roads for the Otago Provincial Government in 1862. He became Tuapeka County engineer in 1878, retiring in 1885 and taking up land in Kaitangata. It is possible that Smaill added to the existing dwelling house and erected the outbuildings, as he advertised for tender for additions and erection of Stable and Outhouses just before the title of the land was transferred to him. Smaill sold the property in 1885. The advertisement describes Smaill’s half acre sections, ‘with a substantially-built seven-roomed Dwelling and Out-offices, consisting of Coach House and Stable, Coal and Wash Houses, all in the best order’ and well stocked with fruit trees and flowers. He also sold two other sections on the same block.

Smaill’s replacement as Tuapeka County engineer, John Edie (1856-1928), bought the property. Edie was County Engineer from 1885-1888 (when the position was disestablished for financial reasons), and again from 1903-1925.

Jane Duthie Crooke bought the property in 1892. In 1890, Milton-born Jane married barrister and solicitor Alfred Crooke who set up practice in Lawrence. Crooke later served as stipendiary magistrate in Greymouth, moving to New Plymouth in 1912. After leaving Lawrence, Jane sold the property to brewer James Kerr Simpson in 1919. Simpson owned the property until his death in 1937.

Simpson was a significant figure in Lawrence’s history as a businessman and local politician. With Benjamin Hart, Simpson ran the Black Horse Brewery (List Entry No. 9598, Category 1) one of the most well-known in Otago and Southland. The brewery closed in 1923 after it was bought out by New Zealand Breweries. Local historian Daphne Lemon records that the house was built for Simpson by builder F.A. Miller. She states that the double storey (brick) section was the original house and the single storey timber wing was added later. There is some doubt about this assertion – it would be more usual for an early residence to be timber and the later brick, and there was a house on site by 1885 and probably not the two storey brick residence as these were features that would usually have been mentioned in a sale advertisement. The house has had several subsequent changes of ownership, and in 2015, remains a private residence.