The view from St Marys Bay overlooking the Waitematā Harbour is one of the most iconic views in Auckland. Now, one of the most iconic homes in the area is on the market for the first time in 16 years.
23 London Street in Auckland’s St Marys Bay is for sale by way of tender, closing November 16, and is being marketed by Barfoot & Thompson agents Carl Madsen and Luke Dallow. The five-bedroom, four-bathroom home last changed hands in 2006 for $1.75 million, according to OneRoof data.
When the owners of 23 London Street first saw the view from the property’s expansive windows, it felt like they were coming home.
“We had both lived in the Ponsonby area most of our lives, and I whenever I drove down St Marys Bay Road, I’d always think that I’d love to wake up to that view every morning,” they say.
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“It really was the view that brought us here, and that combined with the beauty of the home has kept us here for so long.”
Perched atop the St Marys Bay cliffs, the property looks like it has stepped straight out of a history book. In fact, it has.
“If you pick up any history book about the area, you’ll see our home standing proudly on the cliff face, when the water came right up to the bottom of the rocks.
“This home has such a heart and a history. She’s seen a lot in her time, and we’re honoured to have been a part of her story too.”
When the owners of 23 London Street first saw the view from the property’s expansive windows, it felt like they were coming home. Photo / Supplied
Instead of moving in straight away, the owners used the home as their inner-city office – even building an entertainment area on the top floor for office functions. A few years later, they decided to move in and have carried out extensive restorations and renovations as they’ve created their family home.
No expense has been spared on modern living. The master suite features uninterrupted views of the Waitematā Harbour through bi-fold windows that span an entire wall.
The sprawling kitchen which opens out to an outdoor gas fireplace and saltwater pool makes for easy family living and entertaining alike.
The bottom floor is entirely self-contained, perfect for extended family or an au pair. Ductless air conditioning, gas-heating, double-glazing, room for a media room or gym, and a dumbwaiter from the triple-car garage to the utility room in the centre of the house makes living across three floors easy too.
Throughout the renovations the history of the home has been respected.
The sprawling kitchen opens out to an outdoor gas fireplace and saltwater pool making for easy family living and entertaining alike. Photo / Supplied
The master suite features uninterrupted views of the Waitematā Harbour through bi-fold windows that span an entire wall. Photo / Supplied
“We’ve put a lot of thought into how modern living can be achieved in a traditional space. We tongue-and-grooved the kitchen and dining areas, did square-stopping by hand, and carved arches onsite instead of sending them away. Everything has been built to last, and you’d never know some of it wasn’t here before.”
23 London Street is a house full of memories that the owners hope the new owners will add to.
“We moved into the home to live in it when my daughter was 3 or 4. It was evening when she entered the house for the first time, and as she looked out at the view with the stars in the sky and the lights bouncing off the water below, she said, ‘Mummy, I wish upon a twinkling star that all my friends are happy and looked after’.
“That’s the feeling she got when she came here for the first time, like it was a fairy tale. And it’s the feeling we get every day when we close the doors on the world outside and step into our own little sanctuary.”
