Setting up a HomePod mini as a Homekit hub in a second house

I have a second home that I wish to set up a HomePod mini to use as a HomeKit hub. This second home is already set up in HomeKit -- running on an AppleTv. Because of ongoing problems of iCloud signing out and the hub going offline (another story), I wish to make the HomePod mini as the hub.

I am not able to be at at secondary home for 6 months but I want to get my HomeKit accessories (cameras, alarms, etc.) working now. My question is can I set up a HomePod mini in my primary home (obviously another network) and then mail it to someone who could plug it in or do I have to physically do the setup in the secondary home -- on the same network, with my iPhone.