This renovated character home located between Parnell Rise and the St Georges Bay Road precinct started life nearly 150 years ago as one of three side-by-side ‘triplet’ houses built in exactly the same style.
It’s now one of the two that remain, these days renovated, extended and bearing mixed use zoning in a neighbourhood blending heritage and modern buildings.
One of the couple who own this 1874 residence, Rosa, says: “My husband Paul and I bought it in 2004 having moved from Wellington for Paul’s work. I was attracted to the character, including its high stud and large sash windows. It was functional for modern use, while allowing you to feel like you’re living in a piece of history.”
The location was another drawcard, only a couple of minutes’ walk from Paul’s work and around 20 minutes’ walk or a quick bus ride from Rosa’s CBD workplace. Their address, zoned for Parnell District School and double grammar, is a short walk from Alberon Reserve where their kids learnt to ride bikes and the family walked their Airedale terrier, Billie.
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3 Farnham Street in Parnell, Auckland, is on the market for sale by auction on November 1. The property has a 2021 RV of $2.2 million and, according to OneRoof data, last changed hands in 2004 for $775,000.
Listing agent Fleur Denning, of Bayleys, says: “This is one of the most charming Parnell villas, oozing with character both inside and out, with unique mixed use zoning giving it an abundance of flexibility.”
Originally a two-storey kauri villa, previous owners’ renovations included a single-storey rear extension in keeping with its style around 2000. This made it more practical as a family home.
The two-storey kauri villa was built in 1874 and many of its character features have been retained. Photo / Supplied
Rosa says: “It’s surprisingly spacious and has great storage.”
The couple have owned it for 20 years, during which time they had their two children and raised them into their teens.
Their improvements include re-roofing and re-spouting with copper spouting, repainting inside and out, adding insulation and heat pumps and reconditioning the two living areas’ gas fireplaces.
They had the exterior stripped back to the original kauri for a superior repainting job, delighted subtle saw marks from manually pit-sawn timber could still be detected afterwards.
The property’s mixed use zoning allows for residential or commercial use or both. It has an open-air parking spot plus a compact garage underneath where they used to keep a vintage Fiat 500. Its location meant they seldom drove during the week.
Its 227sqm of land include fully fenced rear grounds safe for children or dogs. A picturesque covered front veranda prefaces the interior, which is flooded with light with the aid of multiple skylights. White walls help showcase art.
The 227sqm of land includes fully fenced rear grounds safe for children or dogs. Photo / Supplied
The open-plan kitchen-living-dining room opens to the rear courtyard. Photo / Supplied
A front bedroom sits opposite the second living area which is “great for reading or the family watching movies together.”
Original timber floors gleam in the open-plan kitchen-living-dining room, which opens to the rear courtyard where the children played when young. It’s great for entertaining, with relatively low maintenance landscaping allowing this family of keen sailors to easily go away.
“On a sunny day we’d completely open up the doors and it’d feel like you had an extra outdoor room.”
A separate laundry, bathroom and powder room preface the second bedroom, also opening to the courtyard. Upstairs is devoted to the master suite under high pitched ceilings. It incorporates an ensuite, walk-in wardrobe and study area and opens to its own deck.
The family still love Auckland and this special home but have moved to the upper South Island, having accomplished a long-held dream of buying a small farm.
- 3 Farnham Street in Parnell, Auckland, goes to auction on November 1
