- An Auckland mansion on Victoria Avenue, reimagined by architect Noel Lane, has sold to a local family.
- The vendors, who paid $10.25 million in 2022, never rented it out, considering it a valuable asset.
- Listing agent Margaret Bao said the home was popular with overseas buyers but went to a local family.
An Auckland mansion formerly owned and reimagined by one of the country's leading architects has found a new buyer after sitting empty for several years.
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The vendors paid $10.25 million for the 1920s Arts and Crafts mansion on Victoria Avenue in Remuera in 2022, before finding another home that better suited their needs.
They relisted the property in 2024, but withdrew it from the market after failing to find a buyer at the level they expected. They decided to have another crack at the start of this year. New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty listing agent Margaret Bao said the home, which had an RV of $10.1m, was popular with the overseas market, but it ended up going to a local family.
Architect Noel Lane wrapped the Arts & Crafts mansion with a modern metal and glass addition, surrounded by Japanese-style gardens and a pool. Photo / Supplied
Paneling in the former billiard room was retained. Photo / Supplied
Bao declined to reveal the identity of the purchasers or disclose the sale price, but said: “What I can say is it was a great outcome, and both the vendors and buyers are happy."
She said the vendors had believed the house was "too good to be rented out”.
“They never rented it out. They told me this is a valuable asset to our family. They did have some rental offers but they just turned it down,” she said.
The classic 1920s English Arts & Crafts property had previously been owned by award-winning architect Noel Lane, who bought it in 1996.
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Lane, known for his daring architecture (among his public works is the dramatic refurbishment of the Auckland War Memorial Museum), wrapped the house in a series of steel-and-glass boxes, creating a light-filled 641sqm building. The work took around five years, Bao said.
Well-known landscape gardener Tony Morrell also left his mark on the property after he was commissioned to redesign the gardens just before the home was listed for sale earlier this year.
Bao said the result was impressive, telling OneRoof that those who viewed the home loved the seamless blend between traditional and contemporary.
The listing photos did not do the house justice, she said; it was the type of house you really had to experience in person.
The modern kitchen is surrounded by the new glass rooms leading out to the garden. Photo / Supplied
A glass-enclosed void on the ground floor looks down to a lower-level sitting room. Photo / Supplied
“When you are there, you spend some time, you walk around, and you will understand more. It has been transformed to a grand scale – that’s what the buyers like about it.”
Bao said Remuera was seen as a good family suburb and was popular with foreign buyers who wanted to be near good schools and Auckland's CBD.
People from Singapore, the US and China had flown in to take a look and most had Active Investor Plus visas, she said, adding that most were looking for a permanent home.
“During the marketing period, we had lots of groups view the property. People appreciate the architecture, the fine details and also the philosophy behind the design.”
Last month, OneRoof reported that another mansion on Victoria Avenue had been snapped up by a Hong Kong family for $10.5 million after just two viewings.
Bayleys listing agent Gary Wallace told OneRoof that the buyers flew into Auckland on a quick house-hunting expedition and had settled on the four-bedroom, 548sqm home.
A neighbouring four-bedroom was bought by golden visa holders after just two viewings. Photo / Supplied
Another landmark home on Victoria Avenue was snapped up in May after just 22 days on the market. Photo / Supplied
They liked that the house was close to good schools and came with a swimming pool, a tennis court and a 2328sqm section.
Another landmark Victoria Avenue mansion, also with a swimming pool and a tennis court, found a buyer within a short space of time. Barfoot & Thompson listing agent James Doole declared on social media that he sold the four-bedroom property to a local buyer within 22 days of listing it.
He didn't say what the buyer paid, but the house had an RV of $12m.
“They had particular interest in the architecture as well as the potential of having a multi-generational home,” he said.
“They could adapt the home to work for their family, which this home allowed.”
- Click here to find more properties for sale in Remuera
