- The Auckland villa once owned by TV chefs Peter Hudson and David Halls is for sale.
- The Parnell home, known for its vibrant parties, has a rich culinary and social history.
- Current owners Owen and Tate Chiunda have maintained its charm and added modern touches.
The Auckland villa once owned by TV chefs Hudson and Halls has hit the market, offering buyers a chance to own a piece of New Zealand's culinary and party history.
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Peter Hudson and David Halls bought the three-bedroom house at 103 Brighton Road, in Parnell, in the 1960s and duly made it their own.
Colourfully described by one visitor as "p*** elegant", the interior of the villa was, under their stewardship, a riot of stapled fabric and swirling patterns while the exterior featured Greek statues and, frequently, empty wine bottles.
According to the duo's biographer Joanne Drayton, the home was party central, and stood in contrast to the restrictive, "humdrum conformity of early 1960s Auckland".
The chefs in their heyday. They used to throw elaborate parties in their Parnell villa. Photo / Supplied
103 Brighton Road is now a quiet family home, but the atmosphere, say the owners, is just as joyous. Photo / Supplied
Drayton recounted: "Brighton Road was the perfect place to entertain, and Peter and David had the culinary flair to pull it off. The occasion began for most people with drinks, but if you became a friend the parties could get larger and more elaborate.
"Brighton Road was transgressive, and just being there helped party-goers loosen up, especially when revelries were mixed with large amounts of alcohol. In this atmosphere of tolerance, Peter and David’s sexuality became to a large extent irrelevant. They didn’t discuss it; they didn’t make an issue of it."
The chefs slept in just one tiny bedroom, which featured two single beds, Drayton noted.
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The pair's cookery antics were a staple of New Zealand TV from 1976 to 1986, before they moved to the UK. Hudson died of cancer in 1992, and Halls died the following year.
Vendors Owen and Tate Chiunda, who bought the house in 2019 for just over $1.5m, told OneRoof they loved hearing about its colourful history. “We tried to look for people to find out more,” Owen said.
“The next-door neighbour is British, and he was friends with the guy who used to live in this house after Hudson and Halls. There was a plumber who put in the pool, but we really didn’t have much to go on.”
Owen, who was born after the stars’ TV heyday, said that many of the changes to the villa date from their time in the house. “They built the lean-to by the pool. Apparently, they used to have parties and throw bottles into the pool,” he said.
The three-bedroom villa on Brighton Road is stylishly presented. Photo / Supplied
The house comes with an outdoor pool and decent-sized section. Photo / Supplied
Today, the pool is a haven for the couple's teenage son and his friends, and the family’s parties are several leagues below Hudson and Halls’ legendary bashes.
“We’ve had legendary birthday parties for my seven-year-old,” Owen said. “Bouncy castles everywhere. We didn’t throw bottles in the pool, but we threw lots of fairy dust."
He added: "It’s joyful, family home.”
The couple have, over their seven years at 103 Brighton Road, worked their way around the house, painting and decorating – the cheery yellow front door was Tate’s selection – but are impressed with the quality of the Edwardian timbers and workmanship.
“The house will be really loved by people who love that outdoor area. The craftsmanship, everything is still intact,” Owen said.
The house has an RV of $2.1m and is listed with Bayleys agent Fleur Denning, who calls it a "Parnell classic" in her marketing.
"This much-loved three-bedroom cottage blends local history with lifestyle appeal and incredible potential in one of the city fringe’s most coveted pockets," she says in her listing on OneRoof.
- 103 Brighton Road, Parnell, Auckland, goes to auction on June 10
