Before he arrived in New Zealand, Luck took up of land in Heathcote in March 1851 through and with his partner Edward Kent. Rural Section 64 was located next to the Heathcote River near where it flowed into the Avon Heathcote Estuary. Kent chose several town sections, including TS 705, which is the corner property fronting Colombo Street, Gloucester Street, and Cathedral Square in the north-west quadrant of the Square. TS 705 was sold to Luck, with a conveyancing date of 3 June 1853 on the title document. Luck built a house for himself on the Gloucester Street frontage. Land was subleased in 1862 on a 21-year term.