Deborah & Alistair McMahon
We weren’t looking for a business. We were looking for space to breathe, a place for our daughters Holly and Rose to run wild, and a corner of the world where life could move more gently.
What we found was a calling we didn’t see coming.
The first day we drove up that winding road and saw the old schoolhouse sitting there, forgotten, unloved, the roof leaking, the gardens gone to seed, something clicked. This wasn’t just a property. It was a place with a soul that hadn’t stopped beating.
We had no experience restoring heritage buildings. No grand business plan. We just knew we had to save her.
The Early Years
The first five years were intense. We worked until the small hours, scraping, sanding, painting, polishing — while raising two young daughters and regularly questioning our sanity.
Then someone would stop by. A former pupil. A descendant of a teacher. They’d have tears in their eyes thanking us, and that was enough to keep going.
The local community showed up with tool belts on. The school’s history began returning, ribbons, trophies, the original bell, letters tucked behind walls, photos found in attic corners. Building by building, the place came back to life.
In 2013, we hosted an open day for everyone connected to the school’s past. Playground friendships reignited after fifty years. Stories poured out. Laughter and tears in equal measure. That day, we understood what we were doing here.
We opened for weddings and celebrations that same year. We booked out immediately and haven’t stopped since.
Today
We still live on-site in the Headmaster’s Cottage, built in 1936. Our daughters grew up here — their handprints are literally in the walls. When we’re not hosting, you’ll find us in the gardens, maintaining the buildings, or in a shed restoring something. We’re both avid gardeners, travellers, and collectors of old things that others might call junk.
Custodians, Not Owners
We don’t think of ourselves as owners. We’re custodians, temporary guardians of something much larger than us.
We’ve tried to build something that feels like an extension of who we are, warm, genuine, a bit quirky, not precious. A place where rust and weathered wood and wildflowers growing where they want are features, not flaws.
We’re proud to run a family business that employs local staff, supports local businesses and charities, and reinvests back into the property. The valley elders are always welcome to pull up a chair in our kitchen, as long as there’s something baking.
Come and Meet Us
We’ve been doing this for over fifteen years, and the wonder hasn’t worn off.
If you’re planning a wedding, a celebration, or you’re simply curious about this place, come and walk the grounds. Sit in the schoolhouse. Feel what we felt that first day.
This place has a way of choosing its people.
Deborah & Alistair
info@oldforestschool.co.nz
Work With Us
Each season we welcome a small number of people into our team, calm, well-presented humans who take pride in beautiful spaces and genuinely enjoy looking after others. We occasionally have roles in bar service, hospitality, event setup, and caretaking.
info@oldforestschool.co.nz