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.