Ormlie Lodge was built by William Nelson in 1899 as a wedding present to his daughter Gertrude and son in law Hector Smith. Thus started the long and romantic history of Ormlie Estate.

The 1931 earthquake damaged the house extensively forcing the Smiths to move out for two years while it was repaired at the cost of £1764 (GB pounds). Gertrude and Hector, who had four daughters, lived their entire married life on the estate. Gertrude died in 1955 but Hector remained in the villa another seven years until he sold it in 1962, just before his death at the age of 93.

The new owners turned the home into a private hotel, and the stables were converted into one of Hawkes Bay´s finest restaurants during the 1960s. For the next twenty years the gracious homestead went through a number of changes and owners. In 1985 fire destroyed the Stables Restaurant. Fortunately the homestead itself was not touched by the blaze. The Stables Restaurant was never rebuilt.

Soon after the fire Don and Alma Kale bought the lodge, renovated it to its former glory, and engaged the services of the son of the original builder to construct the elegant ballroom which is now the venue for weddings, conferences, etc

Late in 1999, the Lodge was purchased by John Ferguson and Mark Bartlett who reopened the restaurant under the name The Grande Villa as the first step in an ambitious refurbishment plan. In 2004 John bought Mark´s interest in the Lodge although they still manage the business together.