bought by Tracy Gough, and in 1941 by the firm, Gough, Gough and Hamer. Tracy Gough added to the beauty of the gardens by having a lily pond built and having rhododendrons and azaleas and many more exotic trees planted in the gardens. The property was sold in 1962 to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following the death of Gough, Gough and Hamer founder Tracy Gough. When the church wanted to sell Mona Vale to a New Zealand company intending to subdivide the property and to demolish the homestead, a public outcry resulted in community fund-raising. The Christchurch City Council and the Riccarton Borough Council bought Mona Vale in June 1969 for the purpose of turning it into a public park. The purchase of Mona Vale is credited to Christchurch mayor Ron Guthrey. Until the 2010 Canterbury earthquake, the homestead was operated as a restaurant, café and function centre, often used for weddings. The building closed due to earthquake damage. It was officially reopened by Christchurch City Councillor James Gough, great-grandson of the former owner Tracy Thomas Gough, on 28 November 2016 following a two-year, $3.2 million repair and restoration. The Christchurch Civic Trust awarded a heritage renovation award in 2017 for the earthquake repair works. Heritage listings The homestead was registered as a Category 1 heritage building by the NZHPT on 7 April 1983 with registration number 283. The gate house off Fendalton Road has its own heritage listing, and it was registered by NZHPT as Category II on 23 June 1983 with registration number 1799. References External links Website of the homestead proprietor 1899 establishments in New Zealand Urban public parks Parks in Christchurch Tourist attractions in Christchurch Heritage New Zealand Category 1 historic places in Canterbury, New Zealand Heritage New Zealand Category 2 historic places in Canterbury, New Zealand