Turrets have evoked enchantment throughout history and in 2003 the sight of one amidst park-like grounds captivated one of the owners of this property, Anna.
She’d returned from working overseas and was driving around Epsom with her parents looking for a house to become their shared intergenerational family home, when they pulled up at this one.
“I looked down the driveway through the trees and could see the turret and thought it was gorgeous. It was like a little castle amidst the trees.”
It was built for well-to-do businessman Edgar Walton, reputedly around 1900, when largely agricultural Epsom was dotted with the country homes of the upper class. There were originally castle-like upper crenulations around the back, since removed, although the beguiling turrets have thankfully endured.
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“There are some great old photos of the family of Edgar Walton in Victorian dress, posing in front of this home.”
In the mid-1900s it was converted into four or five flats. “It was in quite a dilapidated state in the 1970s, before new owners converted it back into a family home. By the time I bought it with my parents it really was a grand home again.”
The double Grammar-zoned 1097sqm property has nurtured three generations of their family simultaneously. As toddlers, Anna’s daughters were captivated by crawling up its wide internal stairway, the animal-mad one later repeatedly having mobile farm birthday parties on the front lawn.
In 2017 the family commissioned architect Christina van Bohemen and master builders Shore Build to completely renovate and extend the home. Construction alone took 15 months, spanning everything from taking walls back to scrim to reroofing in the original part of the homestead.
Extension included skilfully folding a self-contained apartment into its floorplan, in which Anna’s mother Dianne has lived for several years.
The home was built for well-to-do businessman Edgar Walton, around 1900, when largely agricultural Epsom was dotted with the country homes of the upper class. Photo / Supplied
The rear kitchen-dining-family room with butler’s pantry spills out to a north-facing deck. Photo / Supplied
Anna says: “They did an extremely architecturally sensitive renovation, maintaining the graciousness and the beautiful proportions, the generous spaces and light within the home.”
Increasing modern functionality included overhauling services, security and central heating, which accompanies two marble-clad fireplaces. The 516sqm home with triple garaging sits on its park-like grounds on the corner of Coronation Road and Selwyn Road, mature trees floodlit at night.
Tranquil, private and secure, its myriad living and entertaining spaces accompany six bedrooms, four bathrooms and the rarity of two full kitchens thanks to its apartment inclusion.
Restored heritage craftsmanship abounds, from wide matai floorboards to board-and-batten ceilings with ceiling roses more than four metres above, original leadlight windows, art nouveau motifs and vintage lighting.
They co-exist with a light-filled, open ambience throughout the interior, aided by abundant storage. A rear kitchen-dining-family room expanse with butler’s pantry spills out on to a north-facing deck within ivy-clad walls, ever inviting for entertaining or sun-caressed repose.
The 516sqm home has six bedrooms, four bathrooms, triple garaging, a self-contained apartment and multiple living areas. Photo / Supplied
When young, the owner’s daughters were captivated by the wide internal stairway. Photo / Supplied
Anna can easily invite business associates into the octagonal office-library just off the grand entrance foyer, while a front formal lounge neighbouring a formal dining room has the ambience of an entertaining salon. There’s a casual lounge and farmhouse-scale laundry.
Five bedrooms and three bathrooms (including the ensuited primary bedroom with walk-in wardrobe) and a front balcony unite upstairs. The apartment, ideal for grandparents, teens, guests or an au pair, has a full kitchen-dining-lounge flowing to the deck, a spacious bedroom, full bathroom and walk-in wardrobe.
Anna’s daughters now grown, the family will downsize.
Ray White agent Steen Nielsen says: “31 Coronation Road, a grand, soulful character home on a beloved, tree-lined street, is truly special.
“Soaring stud heights, leadlight windows and native timber floors meet an architect-led renovation, a self-contained apartment, and an extraordinary near-1100sqm corner site. Beautifully presented and faithfully maintained throughout the years.”
- 31 Coronation Road in Epsom, Auckland, is for sale by set date, closing March 12
