- Two Paritai Drive mansions sold for almost $24 million to local Auckland families.
- The properties attracted overseas interest, but local offers were higher, with prices slightly below RV.
- Another Paritai Drive mansion is up for grabs with a secret tennis court.
Two Paritai Drive originals have been snapped up by local buyers for almost $24 million.
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The neighbouring mansions on Auckland's billion‑dollar street had attracted the interest of overseas buyers and developers, but New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty listing agent Paul Sissons said that the best offers had been submitted by two Auckland families.
One of the families, from Orakei, had scooped up 80 Paritai Drive last week for $12.5m, while the other, from the city's eastern suburbs, got 82 Paritai Drive several days later for $11.388m. Both prices were slightly below RV.
Sissons said a handful of developers had offered to buy the two sites together, but their “opportunist” offers, some around $8m, fell well short of the mark. “Nobody was that desperate to sell,” the agent told OneRoof.
80 Paritai Drive was a three-bedroom original 1930s mansion that was on the market for the first time in 40 years. It sported a glass and metal pavilion out the back, designed by Ken Crosson, and huge cycad palms in the garden. The trees were a hit with the buyers, Sissons said.
80 Paritai Drive benefitted from a refresh a decade ago, which included a modern glass and steel pavilion designed by architect Ken Crosson. It was sold for $12.5m. Photo / Supplied
82 Paritai Drive was originally crafted in the 1930s. It was snapped up for just over $11m. Photo / Supplied
"They had talked to the family about whether they could buy one, because they loved them so much. So $12.5m later, they had them, and the house,” he said, adding that the new owners plan to tidy up the house and live in it.
“The Crosson building out the back could be a cool place to use as a second living area or a media room.”
82 Paritai Drive also dates back to the 1930s and was previously the home of George Hitchcock, a squadron leader in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War and later a renowned doctor.
It had last changed hands in 2010 for $5.2m.
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Sissons said the buyers had fallen in love with the sweeping views of the harbour. “They saw it on the Saturday, came back the next day to see what they could do and walked their architect through on the Monday. We had the offer on Tuesday, and it was done by Wednesday,” Sissons said.
“I think they will build their dream home. They looked along Paritai Drive; they saw the underground carparks, the houses elevated for the view."
Sissons has another Paritai Drive mansion available, at number 66. The four-bedroom, 654sqm home, which sits on a 1755sqm section, has a price guide of over $24m, making it one of the priciest on the street.
Sissons, who is marketing the property with colleague Karen Moore, said the house was built for well-known developer Gary Lane in the late 1990s and wraps around a full-sized tennis court at the rear.
66 Paritai Drive is up for grabs for over $24m. It was designed in the 1990s by architect Richard Priest for developer Gary Lane. Photo / Supplied
The tennis court is hidden from the street. Photo / Supplied
The kitchen had been recently refurbished by the vendors. Photo / Supplied
“We’ve talked to several people who have said, ‘I’ve walked past that house for 20 years and never knew there was a tennis court there,'” Sissons told OneRoof.
Sissons said that the house also boasts substantial underground parking. The garage has separate entrances and exits - no need for turnarounds - and can comfortably hold eight cars.
It is the house’s striking nautical-style architecture and infinity pool that catches the eye, though. “Number 66 has Gary’s stamp on it. He had the house designed by Richard Priest,” Sissons said.
“People can see a ship design in it. Somebody came in the other day and said you feel like you’re on a big yacht. The way that the panels are set back, they’re not straight hallways.”
Sissons said the property had attracted interest from both ex-pat Kiwis and foreign buyers going through their application process for the AIP visa, but mostly from families with children who want to use the pool and tennis court.
- 66 Paritai Drive, Orakei, Auckland, is for sale, tender closing June 18
