Many people may know of Millbrook Resort, but few know the story behind our five star luxury resort.
The land on which Millbrook now calls home was first discovered by Maori, and much later by Europeans lured to the region by tales of a gold rush. In the 1860s, French brothers John and Peter Butel from Normandy established a 450-acre wheat farm on the land to feed hungry miners – known as Mill Farm. The rustic remains of the farm live on in Millbrook's restored buildings, farm machinery and the avenue of trees that welcome visitors just as it did 150 years ago.
The Butel brothers were engineers at heart and helped create Arrowtown’s first water race, evidence of which can still be seen around the resort today. The brothers were also the first to have electricity in the district. Peter Butel ran his generator off the water wheel he used for the mill. Peter then offered to provide the whole of Arrowtown with electricity, however the somewhat cautious and backward councillors of the day refused his offer. Arrowtown residents had to wait another 60 years before power became available to them in 1945!
The trees along The Avenue were planted in 1867 and the plaque beneath the first tree commemorates that event. On that day, two-year-old Mary Cotter watched the seedlings being planted and workmen said if she skipped around it, they would name the tree after her. Mary is of course no longer with us, but local legend says that skipping around that very same tree all these years later still brings good luck. The trees are a mix of English Oaks, English Elms and Hawthornes.
In the early 1900’s, Millbrook became a camp for the Wakatipu Mounted Rifles. In the sombre years of World War I, the land was transformed into a tent city and became a hospital for the injured Kiwi soldiers returning from Europe. It was believed the soldiers were nurtured by the natural amphitheatre of Mill Farm and that the soothing majesty of the surrounding mountains helped to heal their body and soul. After World War II the land was returned to its farming roots, but it was not until four decades later that a new vision was born…
In the late 1900’s, the Ishii family set out to establish a lifestyle resort of international standing that existed in harmony with the land. Inspired by the natural surroundings, Mr. Eiichi Ishii’s goal was to create a paradise for people to enjoy life together. Through the continued investment and support from the Ishii family, who still own the resort today, the dream became a reality in 1993 when Millbrook Resort opened to the public. On March 12 2015, Mr Eiichi Ishii was presented with the keys to Arrowtown in honour of this wonderful resort which has become a New Zealand icon, and of the continuous support from the Ishii family.
