- A nine-bedroom mansion in Christchurch with earthquake damage is going to auction “as is, where is”.
- Known as Stoneycroft, it was a mental health hospital and later Morley Restaurant & Bar.
- The property, with a $1.95m RV, features heritage elements but requires restoration by the buyer.
Overseas owners are taking a nine-bedroom mansion with a colourful history to auction next month in “as is, where is” condition.
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79 Carmen Road has been vacant ever since it suffered structural damage in the Christchurch earthquakes more than a decade ago. It is now on the hunt for a new owner who can bring it back to life.
Known as Stoneycroft, the sprawling 1910 heritage-listed estate was bought by the Government in the 1920s and turned into a mental health hospital.
The intention was to run the hospital as a sanatorium where paying patients could enjoy domestic comforts, but it quickly evolved into a place that offered progressive mental health treatments.
The 1910 mansion still has many of its original features including the stained-glass windows and wood panelling. Photo / Supplied
Morley’s Restaurant operated from the building before it was closed due to earthquake damage. Photo / Supplied
The hospital closed in the early 1990s, and the estate was carved up and sold off. Christchurch businessman Raymond McEvoy bought the heritage building at 79 Carmen Road and turned it into Morley Restaurant & Bar.
The current owners bought the building off McEvoy in 2003 for $700,000 and continued to run it as Morley’s Restaurant until the quakes damaged the building and forced its closure to the public.
The property has been on and off the market for at least five years, but Ray White Next Step Realty owner Tina Zhang said the owners’ circumstances had changed and they were now extremely motivated to do a deal. According to her listing, “it must be sold”.
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Zhang told OneRoof: “The current owners have decided to relocate elsewhere and have no plans to return anytime soon. They are now looking to pass this unique home with all its character potential to a new owner who can truly appreciate everything it has to offer.”
The property, which has an RV of $1.95 million, is being sold “as is, where is”. The “moderate” earthquake damage included the removal of chimneys and the collapse of a bedroom wall.
“The current owners will not be carrying out any repairs or renovations, and buyers will assume responsibility for any restoration or maintenance,” Zhang said.
The heritage-listed property was once a mental health hospital. Photo / Supplied
Period features, like the impressive staircase, lend the residence a sense of grandeur and prestige. Photo / Supplied
Despite the damage, the home still boasted impressive character features, including the large oak staircase in the entranceway, the timber panelling, the chandeliers and the stained-glass windows.
Zhang said the property could suit someone on the hunt for a large family home or might appeal to buyers looking for an investment or base for an accommodation business.
While the home itself is heritage-protected, the 4470sqm section it sits on could be redeveloped because it is zoned residential suburban and has commercial approvals.
- 79 Carmen Road, in Hornby, Christchurch, goes to auction on March 26
