- A Northland home owned by former Cabinet minister Aussie Malcolm sold quickly for close to $1.475m.
- The 1970s Tutukākā retreat received five offers despite needing work and lacking a compliance certificate.
- Buyers plan to renovate, potentially increasing the home’s value to $2.5m once completed.
A stunning Northland home owned by former Cabinet minister Aussie Malcolm has sold in less than a month despite needing work.
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Ray White listing agent Peter Vink declined to reveal the exact sale price, but OneRoof understood it was close to its RV of $1.475 million.
The 1970s coastal retreat on Dolphin Place, in Tutukākā, near Whangārei, was listed for sale last month following the death of the former politician last year at the age of 83.
Vink’s listing highlighted its architectural pedigree - it was designed by a renowned California architect - and noted the impressive views of the Poor Knights islands, Pinnacles and Sugar Loaf from the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The Californian retro-style home with floor-to-ceiling windows was built in the 1970s. Photo / Supplied
Vink said he received five offers for the deceased estate, even though it was tired and missing a code of compliance certificate for a major extension Malcolm carried out in the early 2000s.
The buyers, a couple from Whangārei, planned to spend time and money upgrading everything over the next couple of years, he said.
“They aren’t planning to make any major changes because the design and positioning on the block are superb. It’s just a case of bringing it back to life again.”
He estimated the house would be worth around $2.5m once renovated and code-compliant.
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Vink said the home was structurally sound and had some cool features, including a secure concrete bunker with a blast-proof door, a second one-bedroom guest house, and an ornamental pool.
Vink said it was not uncommon to come across homes in the area with great views but in need of repair. “We have had a lot of that on the coast. People arrive in their 40s or 50s and before they know it, they’re 80-year-olds and maintenance of the house stopped 10 years prior.”
The Dolphin Place house was built in 1973 for the parents of NZ singer Shona Laing. Malcolm paid $459,000 for the house in 1996.
Malcolm was known as a charismatic politician and spent several years in various ministerial posts in Robert Muldoon’s Government. He served as an MP for nine years, after which he took up various causes, including New Zealand’s first America’s Cup challenge.
At the time of his death, he was under police investigation for allegations of child sexual abuse. Earlier this year, it was reported that police had reviewed the allegations, which dated back to the 1980s, but decided to take no further action.
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