PHOTO: Palliser Bay Station. STUFF
Simon Crawford, the late owner of Palliser Bay Station in Wairarapa, was well-known for his distinct style and character in the 1980s. Mark Green, whose mother, Gabrielle Giesen, was Crawford’s partner for four decades, remembers him fondly. “Simon was a true character, sporting his big mustache—quite trendy back then. He had a business flair shaped by his London years,” Green recalls.
Simon, a Wairarapa native, shared a long friendship with Gabrielle, with whom he played in tennis tournaments during their teenage years. Although he had a strong urban background, Simon also had deep roots in farming; his family included the founders of the Wairarapa A&P show, and an uncle who was a celebrated breeder of Southdown sheep.
After spending years abroad, mainly in London where he developed properties, Simon ultimately returned to New Zealand. His romance with Gabrielle blossomed, and they settled on the sprawling 3719.29-hectare Palliser Bay Station.
The station sits at Wairarapa’s southernmost tip, a rugged landscape with dramatic coastal views across the Cook Strait to Kaikōura. Encompassing terraced fields, a winding valley stream, and dense bush, the property offers a unique natural charm.
Historically significant, the station includes Māori archaeological sites and evidence of early kumara cultivation and moa hunting, along with more recent European use by hunters and trampers. Today, the area’s diverse environment provides opportunities for hunting wild pigs and deer, while the station’s main activity remains livestock farming.
Reflecting his meticulous nature, Simon had ambitious plans for Palliser Bay Station. He kept detailed records on each animal, aimed to breed merino sheep, raised beef cattle, and managed sections of the land for carbon credits through native bush conservation and pine planting. In 2010, Simon partnered with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to preserve Te Humenga dunes, a crucial habitat for rare sand species, katipō spiders, and endangered moths.
Green describes Palliser Bay Station as the ultimate Kiwi lifestyle experience: “When the sea’s no good, you can go hunting in the backcountry, and when it’s calm, fishing and diving.” Inspired by Simon’s vision, Mark and his wife Sally opened a nearby homestay called “The Pallis.” Overlooking Palliser Bay with views of the Kaikōura mountains, The Pallis has quickly become a sought-after destination for weekend getaways and outdoor experiences, attracting visitors from Wellington and abroad.
Simon was able to see The Pallis before his passing in 2022, a memory Green cherishes. “Simon loved showing off the station and its views. He was thrilled to see so many visitors appreciating what he had envisioned,” says Green.
The property’s rare market presence, size, and prime location—only a short drive from Martinborough and two hours from Wellington—make it an attractive opportunity for development. Neighboring luxury retreat Wharekauhau Lodge, known to host royalty, underscores the area’s potential as a high-end getaway.
The Giesen-Crawford family, however, won’t lead this development. With family members based abroad and Green now 62, the property is being offered for sale by Bayleys agents Tim Wynne-Lewis and Andrew Smith. It spans 120 hectares of fertile terraces, 1,500 hectares of hill country, and 252.2 hectares under a Permanent Forest Sink covenant, with a $9,504,000 CV. The tender closes at 4 p.m. on November 14.
SOURCE: STUFF