- Monique Facon and Shane Clapson are selling their home in Onehunga, formerly an electrical substation.
- The couple transformed the 1946 building, preserving original features and adding modern amenities.
- They are selling after 24 years, but still have business in the suburb.
Monique Facon and Shane Clapson have never been ones for normal suburban homes, and the stylish three-bedroom house they’re selling in Auckland’s Onehunga is no exception.
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142 Trafalgar Street is a piece of Auckland’s industrial history. Formerly an electrical substation, the property boasts a look that would be the envy of Ponsonby, never mind Onehunga.
Shane told OneRoof that the couple were used to unusual spaces. “Once upon a time, in the 80s and 90s, we were young and living in the heart of the city,” he said.
The former substation is a standout home in Onehunga. Photo / Supplied
The vendors have spent more than two decades bringing the house up to scratch and creating a stunning living space. Photo / Supplied
“Auckland was exciting back then. Lots of venues, bars, musicians, and interesting people. It was very vibrant.
“Then came the time to put away those toys. We were looking in the suburbs, and Onehunga felt far away compared to our lifestyle.”
However, the old Auckland Electric Power Board substation they chanced upon at 142 Trafalgar Street turned out to be anything but suburban.
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A previous owner had done the bare minimum to begin the conversion, but Shane and Monique saw a lot of potential. “There was a very rudimentary kitchen and bathroom, and no other real development other than the basic structure. The upstairs bathroom was just a toilet,” Shane told OneRoof.
“We had a code after finishing an open home. If we liked it, we’d say ‘The cats would love it’,” Monique said. “We thought we’d say it after the tour, but we stepped half a foot inside and both said it immediately. We were sold. There was a bit of toing and froing, but we ended up securing it.” That was 2001.
The couple did take on more than they expected in terms of renovation. “The first day we moved in, we realised we hadn’t looked properly,” Monique said. “There was hardly any light. No lighting in the main room at all. Upstairs, there was some in the office-y room, but in the other two rooms, there was none at all.”
The outdoor swimming pool is one of several luxury touches that sets the home apart. Photo / Supplied
Shane added: “It was really, really raw. Even compared to our warehouse spaces, it was a shock.”
The structure was solidly built, but that proved problematic. The waist-high concrete between the dining room and kitchen was a near-indestructible barrier to open-plan living.
“We’ve been doing it up the whole time,” Monique said. “We only finished the upstairs bathroom a couple of years ago. Sandblasted all the lounge walls. That was a huge job.”
The couple kept many original features in the 1946 building, including the old power box. “It’s an Art Deco-age property, so we did things like the upstairs bathroom with a whole deco vibe,” Monique said.
The toys are out on display in one of the rooms. Photo / Supplied
They restored the windows instead of replacing them, to keep the original look. That meant importing the latches from England, because it was impossible to get replacement parts in New Zealand. “We love the steel windows,” Monique said. “We’re big steel window fans.
When the pair first moved in, they kept finding new, unused electrical wiring. Upstairs, in the backyard and under the house.
“Where the pool is now, there were big carpets in the backyard for making lines. Even under the house, there were huge power lines when we bought it. We actually sold them. They were full of copper, but hard to access. We thought we’d give them away for free, but people battled for them.”
Outside, the couple has landscaped, put a heated pool and spa pool in, added paving and decking, and put in a new carport for their VW car and van. “We put the swimming pool in around 2005. It’s heated.”
Monique said the couple’s favourite part of the house was the lounge. “It’s just cool, with a great vibe. It’s a great [New York loft] vibe. The house was nearly in a Netflix show a couple of years ago. [The scouts] knocked on the door, and all the producers came. We lost out because another place in Parnell had a kitchen in the main room, which was easier for filming.”
The couple worked in the design industry until the mid-2010s, when Shane started a side hustle selling martial arts gear. “I saw the writing on the wall around 2010,” he said. “I was sick of invoicing cycles and late payments. I’ve done karate most of my life, so martial arts was a natural fit.”
Monique and Shane are sad to leave Onehunga after 24 years there. “I’m glad it hasn’t [turned into Ponsonby],” Shane said. “We’ve got a really interesting little town. It’s lifted dramatically in the last 25 years, but hasn’t fallen into Ponsonby tropes. It’s a town full of unique people who aren’t just obsessed with cash.”
The couple said they were selling after amicably parting ways, although they still run their joint business, Zenjo Martial Arts Supplies, in the suburb.
Ponsonby-based Bayleys agent Blair Haddow, who is taking 142 Trafalgar Street to auction on November 12, said he recently sold another former substation.
The home, on Buller Street, in Ponsonby, was snapped by a St Marys Bay local for $3.3m. “They just really wanted to own it,” Haddow said. “It will be a high-end rental.”
- 142 Trafalgar Street, Onehunga, Auckland, goes to auction on November 12
