A water-orientated family who love having the beach immediately on hand managed to avoid the ‘goldfish bowl’ exposure many waterfront properties entail.
Caroline and Peter Knowles’ home of 15 years, where they’ve raised their son and daughter, is one back from Cheltenham Beach in Devonport with a direct, gated pathway to the sand and sea.
Caroline says: “It’s all very nice living right on the beachfront but that can be noisy. Whereas with this house you can ‘do’ the beach, have lots of fun and then walk up the path to this wonderful, quiet oasis.”
They can feel sea breezes and admire views of the water and Rangitoto from the upstairs of their grand renovated character home.
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“It’s been amazing living so close to the beach, with our children growing up as water babies. When they were little we could easily nip back home from the beach for them to have afternoon naps and now it’s easy to head out with a paddleboard.”
36 Cheltenham Road in Devonport, North Shore, Auckland, is on the market for sale by negotiation. The four-bedroom, three-bathroom property has a 2021 RV of $5.5 million.
The Knowles bought here in 2008 wanting spaciousness that’d suit the family as they grew up. Their 1052sqm site tucked away down a driveway is roughly half-way between beachfront restaurant McHughs of Cheltenham and North Head.
The ancient Mirbeck oak down the end of the driveway prompted them to name it Mirbeck House. They understand the original home was built around 1927 and extended in the 1990s.
“It had some quite ‘90s colours inside when we bought it, like pistachio green and turquoise blue, but we loved all the character that had been retained.” This includes leadlights and the staircase.
The roomy lounge-dining-kitchen has a high stud and sky lights. Photo / Supplied
The weatherboard home has off-street parking plus an internal-access double garage.
“It’s a good-sized home with plenty of space for the children to disperse with their friends as they’ve grown up. And it’s great for entertaining,” Caroline adds.
They’ve renovated over time, banishing the 1990s décor, re-doing the kitchen, bathrooms and flooring. They added a sunny ensuited studio above the garage, which can be a fifth bedroom but is currently Peter’s painting studio.
A large foyer introduces the ground level, flowing out to a long covered veranda which extends along the whole seawards side, overlooking the lawn and garden. The roomy lounge-dining-kitchen has a high stud and sky lights.
The subtly classical but eminently functional kitchen, with scullery, granite-topped island and Falcon cooker, has suited Caroline’s love of cooking.
The property is on the market for the first time in 15 years and is one back from Cheltenham Beach with a direct, gated pathway to the sand and sea. Photo / Supplied
A cosy lounge or media room and a larger library-office-music room accompany the downstairs bedroom, bathroom, laundry and powder room. Photo / Supplied
“We’ve had many parties here over the years, from themed birthday parties for our children to Halloween parties with the whole house decorated,” she says. “We’re quite well-known for having beach parties with the neighbours and ours is always the house people nip back up the pathway to go to the toilet or grab some more ice.”
A cosy lounge or media room and a larger library-office-music room accompany this level’s bedroom, bathroom, laundry and powder room. Another bathroom serves upstairs’ three bedrooms, one with adjoining wee sunroom and the master opening to a large sea-gazing covered balcony perfect for a morning coffee or an evening tipple.
With the Knowles’ daughter about to head away on her OE, the family is ready for their next stage.
Listing agent Linda Simmons, of Bayleys Devonport, says: “This is one of Cheltenham’s original homesteads, enjoying a beachside vibe but with so much heritage and character beautifully retained.”
