The first pieces of the historic Huntly House rode into the sunset on the back of two large flat-bed trailers, leaving Palmerston North for the first time in 106 years.

Bulls-based Central House Movers has cut Huntly into six pieces and sent the back-end of the manor, and half the top, up the road to Auckland on Wednesday night. 

They were aiming to reach the manor's new Clarks Beach home by morning, Central House movers director Mike O'Bryne said.

Warwick Smith/Fairfax NZ

Huntly House has begun its road trip north.

"We'll lift the other side off the top, then we'll lift the building with hydraulic jacks and put two trailers underneath for our two bottom loads, which will give us our three loads."

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O'Bryne said it was shame the manor would leave Palmerston North, but it had stood vacant and was targeted by vandals or years. It probably would have eventually been demolished if it remained on James Line.

Murray Wilson/ Fairfax NZ

Huntly House's grand inside.

There were three or four old houses around Palmerston North in similar situations and O'Bryne was working on deals to restore or relocate them, he said.

"It would be criminal to let these houses be demolished. The history in them is huge."

Huntly House's new owners Hayley and Chris Parsons plan to restore the house on a section overlooking the Waiuku and Taihiki Rivers.

Hayley Parsons said they wanted to preserve the history of the house and she'd thrown herself into researching its provenance.

Gerald and Gerda Borgonje, who'd owned the manor for roughly 30 years, were the real heroes for saving Huntly, after moving it for the first time in the 80s, Parsons said.

"They poured their heart and soul into restoring the house," Hayley Parsons said.

"They've certainly done the lion's share of the work and we're looking forward to being the next chapter in this old lady's life."

O'Bryne said the first two pieces of Huntly House arrived in Auckland early Thursday morning.

They'd hoped the rest of the house would follow that evening, but it "absolutely bucketed down", he said.

The last four pieces were taken to Central House Movers' yard in Bulls to shelter from the rain and would travel to rejoin the rest of the manor on Sunday night.

 - Stuff