When Cathy Holgate and husband Mark bought a substantial 7788sqm site with private water access and a truly enormous 480sqm barn at Point Wells, they kept an open mind as to what they might do with it.
The answer came in the form of a charming, sprawling, 130-year-old villa with a wraparound veranda, which had already been moved once within the Cambridge area, when its original site was impacted by new roading.
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Cathy who’s been the local vet at Orewa Beach for 17 years lovingly describes the dwelling as a ‘grand old girl’.
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“Our friends owned the house and for various reasons they couldn’t carry out their original plans, so they offered her to us.”
Cathy and Mark had to make a quick decision, then rushed to get the required consents, and build foundations on their Point Wells site.
“This is a huge house – at 230sqm with a vast central corridor, so moving it was a challenge, but we cut it in half at the same point as the previous movers had done, and managed to transport it north of Auckland with no major problems,” she says.
Because the section was already well-established in terms of trees and hedging - most of which had been planted by a previous owner, an RAF pilot – around 50 years ago, the grand old girl looked instantly at home there.
She’s been extensively remodelled and modernised, and as a result presents as a practically new home, within a lovingly restored heritage shell.
There are four huge bedrooms, two elegant period-style bathrooms and a vast living area with what is quite possibly one of the largest, best equipped kitchens ever seen in the neighbourhood. It comes with the added bonus of a scullery.
Cathy says that she and Mark were incredibly lucky in finding local tradespeople who fell in love with the house and poured their hearts and souls into the rejuvenation process.
“When we say that practically everything is new, that’s really true.”
The result of all the different parties’ labours is a warm, safe waterside home with all mod-cons, and nothing a new owner need do.
The barn, which is almost twice the size of the house is seriously well decked out, too.
Cathy says that a previous owner utilised it as the headquarters for a palm nursery, and with its full kitchen and endless space it lends itself to other potential uses, especially with its immediate proximity to the sea.
She and Mark are following new opportunities and they feel confident that this fabulous property will be bought by somebody seeking the ultimate luxury lifestyle, with boating and fishing right on the doorstep, just a 15-minute drive to the shops, cafes and other facilities at Warkworth.
Dianna Coman from Bayleys Warkworth says that the house is just perfect, and the barn is a fantastic asset too.
“It’s open plan and very rustic.”
She adds that its unusual to get so much living space in one property.
“It doesn’t come better than this.”
