- An Auckland couple bought Clear Waters, a landmark Art Deco home on Russell’s Long Beach.
- The property attracted strong interest, with its price undisclosed and an RV of $3.76m.
- The home, built by May Harvey, hosted five generations before proceeds were earmarked for philanthropy.
A landmark beach home in Russell, in the Far North, has been snapped up by an Auckland couple.
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Bayleys listing agent Irene Bremner told OneRoof that there had been significant interest in the iconic Art Deco-style home located at the eastern end of Long Beach.
She declined to disclose the price, but said the buyers were thrilled with their purchase.
“They honeymooned on Long Beach some 40-something years ago,” she told OneRoof.
The property, which has an RV of $3.76m and is known locally as Clear Waters, hit the market in June for the first time in 70 years.
Bremner said the buyers had been looking for something special in Russell for some time.
Proceeds from the sale of the over 2ha property will go to charity. Photo / Supplied
The house, known as Clear Waters, backs onto QEII-protected native bush and fronts the white sands of Long Beach. Photo / Supplied
“I’ve been talking to them for five years,” she said, noting that waterfront homes on the strip rarely came up.
“The family is very happy. They have grandchildren and are going to take a breath and enjoy the moment."
Bremner said that of the 30-plus house sales in the area this year, only three have been for over $3m.
She sold one, a property on waterfront Paihia, in April to expat Kiwis for $3.45m, well over its $2.21 RV, after spirited auction bidding.
“There’s certainly momentum out there in the market with buyers, but they’ve got choice,” she said, adding that few properties in the area met the criteria for golden visa purchases.
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Clear Waters was the dream home of the late May Harvey. She had spotted a similar-looking home in a magazine and decided to adapt the design to fit the five-acre section she had bought in Russell in the 1950s.
Harvey died in 2006, aged 98. Her niece and trustee, Mary Lou Herdson, told OneRoof that Harvey had meticulously planned the house, inside and out, but getting it built was a challenge.
Russell, in the 1950s, was far more isolated than it is today, and although the build was “long and fraught”, the project brought Harvey closer to the community around her.
“The house is more than an architectural landmark; it’s the lasting expression of a woman whose independence, hospitality and affection for Russell left a deep impression on those who knew her,” Herdson said.
Harvey was well-known in both Auckland and Russell for her warmth, generosity and lively social circle. “During the Second World War, she spent significant time as a masseuse/physiotherapist for New Zealand troops in Egypt, experiences that helped shape the broad outlook and adventurous spirit she later brought to life at Clear Waters.
Harvey’s affection for Russell began after a visit to her aunt, Bexie Wise, who was then living on Russell Heights Road, which looks out over the beach.
The striking property still has its original features, including a stone fireplace and vintage kitchen. Photo / Supplied
When finished, her Clear Waters home quickly became a distinctive feature of the Long Beach landscape, Herdson said.
“With its curved frontage, stucco finish, flat roof and pillared terrace, it was very much of its time, yet its form sat sympathetically within the natural landscape around it.
“The house has charm, character and a calm sense of permanence. The words above the front door say, 'pax et bonum' — peace and goodwill.”
Herdson said Clear Waters was never just a house for her aunt: “It was a place to be shared. Friends, family, locals, and, on occasion, even strangers who admired the property were welcomed there.
“Over the years, five generations of family have enjoyed holidays in the house, giving Clear Waters a continuity that extends well beyond its architecture.”
Life revolved around the sea, and in the early days, there was a dinghy with an unreliable Seagull outboard motor, later supplemented by a Logan-built 16-foot clinker runabout with a Morris inboard motor.
“Boating gave younger nieces and nephews a sense of freedom around the Bay of Islands, sometimes more freedom than intended,” Herdson said.
The house, which has two bedrooms and a separate cabin, was a social gathering place. “May Harvey held New Year’s parties that were popular local events, with music, singing and a wide circle of Russell friends.
“Clear Waters provided a setting where family memories were made, friendships were strengthened, and visitors could experience the particular beauty of Long Beach, Russell.”
Herdson said the proceeds of the sale would be directed towards philanthropic causes, “allowing her generosity to continue in another form”.
- Click here to find more properties for sale in the Far North
