- Silverdale Homestead, an 1880s Hamilton landmark, is for sale at 8 Sheridan Street.
- The 10-bedroom property includes a two-bedroom cottage and has a rateable value of $1.15m.
- Real estate agent Sue Hall highlighted its proximity to key locations and its Historic Place Category 2 listing.
One of Hamilton’s first homes, a 1880s homestead that lent its name to the suburb of Silverdale, is up for grabs in the city.
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Silverdale Homestead at 8 Sheridan Street sits on a 1244sqm section, although it used to be at the heart of a large commercial farm.
Vendor Sharon Moore told OneRoof that the farm’s first owner was a veteran of the New Zealand Wars, which rocked the country in the latter half of the 19th century. She said Captain C. A. Davis, like many soldiers in the conflict, was granted land by the state as payment for his service.
Captain Davis named his farm Silverdale after his hometown in England. “He was a very innovative guy, and he said to the locals, ‘You can market your goods and get a lot better income’.”
Built in the 1880s, the homestead at 8 Sheridan Street once fronted a vast farm on the outskirts of Hamilton. Photo / Supplied
Davis began organising farming fairs, attracting interest from as far afield as Auckland. He even ran competitions that helped farmers promote their produce.
He wasn’t always a good boy and appeared before the magistrates in a case entitled: “Furious Driving. Police v C.A. Davis”, according to a report in the Waikato Times in 1888. The newspaper reported that Davis was “furiously driving a buggy and a pair of ponies ... and did negligently run over a small boy”. The case was dismissed after a spirited defence by Davis’ lawyer, who had been in the buggy with his client at the time of the accident.
Davis died in his 30s, and the farm changed hands. At one point in its history, it was owned by a Christian organisation, Moore said. “It was a home for girls who had gotten themselves into trouble, but that might not be 100% true.”
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The farm was eventually subdivided, but the homestead survived, and in 1985, it was reported that it was “the only abode that some unfortunate girls and young women can call their home and therefore serves a very necessary purpose in the community”.
At some point, it became a private home again, but a devastating fire nearly destroyed it. Moore said the property was partially restored by the time she bought the home in 2011 for $430,000, adding that she completed the renovations.
Moore said she was selling up to move closer to her family, who mostly live overseas. “My grandchildren are over in Australia, America and Germany.”
The home was badly damaged in a fire but was restored by the owner. Photo / Supplied
Lodge real estate agent Sue Hall said the 10-bedroom, four-bathroom property, which has an RV of $1.15m, includes a separate two-bedroom cottage. “Ideal for extended family, supplementary income, or independent living arrangements; it complements the main home without compromising space,” she said in her listing.
She told OneRoof that the homestead’s proximity to the University of Waikato, the Ruakura Inland Port, Innovation Park, Hillcrest High School, and Kmart were strong selling points.
She said 35 groups came through the first open home. Most loved character homes, but there were also a few curious locals. She said one group considered whether it would be possible to move the home to a lifestyle block. But Hall said it was unlikely the Historic Place Category 2 listing would allow that.
Moore said both she and previous owners had been approached by developers with their eye on removing the homestead and subdividing, but agreed with Hall that that was unlikely to happen.
- 8 Sheridan Street, Silverdale, Hamilton, goes to auction on March 25
