- A historic 1840s kauri settler cottage in Howick is for sale with an RV of $1.7m.
- The McLean family, owners for two decades, are selling to downsize, highlighting its family-friendly nature.
- The cottage, Cherry-Rowe, features original elements and a 1980s extension, with potential for Airbnb use.
One of Auckland’s oldest homes has hit the market for sale.
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The quaint 1840s settler cottage, built from hand-sawn kauri, is the last remaining private home in Howick’s Fencible settlement.
The other surviving Fencible cottages in Howick are in the Howick Historical Village and are museum pieces.
Rene McLean told OneRoof that he and his wife had long admired the historic home at 34 Abercrombie Street, and jumped at the chance to buy it when it came up for sale two decades ago.
“We were like ‘Wow, that’s our dream home’,” he said. “We just fell in love with it.”
The Fencible cottages were originally offered to soldiers who served in the wars of 1830s and 1840s, with more than 800 people moving to Howick as a result.
A deep well in the garden also dates back to when the Fencibles settled in Howick in 1884. Photo / Supplied
The kitchen and dining room are in the original part of the cottage. Photo / Supplied
The McLeans’ home, dubbed Cherry-Rowe Cottage, was built as a duplex for privates William Cherry and Henry Rowe.
McLean told OneRoof that one of the previous owners decided in the 1980s to build a large two-storey extension onto the side of the cottage to house their growing family.
“The main extension was actually done in the 1980s, and you’d never realise it. It took them seven years to build, using materials like polished kauri in the old style of house.”
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The kitchen and dining room are part of the original cottage, which still has the 1840s staircase hidden in a cupboard that leads to the attic, where the first inhabitant’s children slept. The original front door is still there with its old heavy key.
“As far as I know, most of the original cottage is still original. It was built out of hand-sawn kauri ... that kauri survives really well.”
Another surprise was the original heritage-protected brick well, which is 25ft deep and still works.
The colonial theme continues to the porch and backyard, where an old ringer sits beside modern outdoor furniture, while vintage wheels from a horse and cart are features in the garden.
A two-storey extension was added to the side of the cottage in the 1980s and took seven years to complete. Photo / Supplied
The previous owners sourced reclaimed materials such as old kauri ceiling panels and windows to keep with the cottage’s character. Photo / Supplied
When the McLeans first moved in, they had flatmates, but not long after their sons were born, it became their family home.
However, two decades on, and with their children all grown up, they are now looking to downsize. Harcourts agents Karl Vermeulen and Kristyn Davie are marketing the property with an RV of $1.7m.
“It’s a big house, and it really needs a family, so it would be good to pass it on at the right price to a new family that can enjoy it and make the most of it,” McLean said.
Part of the home could also be run as an Airbnb because of its historical significance and only being a five-minute walk to Howick Village, he said.
A heritage-listed stone cottage at 753 Mount Eden Road, in Mount Eden, is also up for grabs. Photo / Supplied
McLean said he would miss the history and character of the home the most. School groups would even stop at the gate as part of the historic walk to read the plaque and admire the heritage-listed home.
“We’ve been really blessed to have our time in there.”
34 Abercrombie Street is not the only historic home up for grabs in Auckland. Bayleys agent Robyn Clark has a three-bedroom stone cottage, dubbed Coldicutt House, for sale at 753 Mount Eden Road, in Mount Eden.
According to Heritage New Zealand, the category two listed home was built in the 1840s or 1850s and is one of only a handful of stone dwellings that still survive in Auckland.
The property last changed hands in 2020, to a “Trust dedicated to its long-term preservation”, and has an RV of $1.425m.
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