A private “country club” for family life – complete with tennis court, pool and inbuilt spa – has come up for sale in Remuera, on two titles making up three-quarters of an acre.
This is a significant home in the heart of Remuera, says Ray White’s Richard Thode.
“Over 3100sqm of land is rare as hen’s teeth, especially when it’s on two titles allowing options and flexibility if required in the future,” says Richard.
The three-storey north-facing character weatherboard home has views out to Rangitoto Island and cannot be seen from the road, which is one of the things the current owners have always liked about it.
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Ridings Road is a no-exit street, so it doesn’t get a lot of traffic and “because it doesn’t have any street frontage, you’re not aware of neighbours around you,” says the owner.
The country club aspect of the home on a large piece of land in the middle of Auckland city is something the family has particularly enjoyed over the past 20 years.
The kids have grown up playing cricket as well as tennis on the court; the neighbours’ kids have learned to play tennis, and it’s even hosted a wedding with a marquee set-up.
It’s been a party house as well as a family home – celebrating birthdays over the years and offering oodles of space to spread out and come together. Now that the children have well and truly left the coop, it’s time to downsize, says the owner.
“As my son summed up, ‘You don’t need the country club in Remuera anymore, Dad’.”
The wide-sweeping staircase with a banister begs to be slid down. Photo / Supplied
The sprawling, three-level 774sqm home, on the 3110sqm section, has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, multiple living areas and garaging for six vehicles. Photo / Supplied
The original home dates back to the early 1900s and was previously owned by a doctor’s family and has a room and side entrance that was used by visiting patients.
Over the years it has been built on by successive owners. The land area represents the original landholding which is now split across two titles (17 Ridings Road and 1B Warrington Road).
The land with the tennis court was subdivided and sold off around the 1930s and later bought back and reunited with the Ridings Road property by the previous owners who demolished the home that had been built upon it to make way for the tennis court.
The current owners also made some renovations when they moved in, including landscaping the grounds and adding a pergola and vegetable garden. They reduced the number of bedrooms in the home from six to four, expanding the size of the rooms and adding ensuites to each.
The floor area downstairs was also increased slightly. The addition of a porte cochère at the front door provides all-weather access from car to house. The home has been well maintained and, as the owners say, it “has great bones” which they’ve not messed with.
The original home dates back to the early 1900s and over the years it has been built on by successive owners. Photo / Supplied
The middle level spacious kitchen opens on to the deck and has an adjoining dining area. Photo / Supplied
“It’s a comfortable family home with good sized rooms. It’s quiet and private and has a great northerly aspect. It’s got space,” he says.
The wide-sweeping staircase with a banister which begs to be slid down – and they have – adds the feeling of spaciousness with the home’s high stud, original kauri floors and feature leadlight windows.
A deck runs along the front of the house and makes the most of the all-day sun, with dedicated areas for outdoor dining and shade. There’s also an enclosed sun porch with deck access.
The middle level spacious kitchen opens on to the deck and has an adjoining dining area.
The formal living room and games room have back-to-back wood fires (though the home has central heating, too). There’s a separate study, and the games room has a billiard table and TV which adds to the country club feel.
The two titles were once just one landholding until the land with the tennis court was subdivided and sold in the 1930s. They were reunited when a previous owner bought it and replaced the home on it with the tennis court. Photo / Supplied
Ray White agent Richard Thode: “This is a forever home opportunity.” Photo / Supplied
The upper level also has a study as well as a master bedroom, enormous dressing room and balcony adjoined by a luxurious ensuite with a bath with a view. Two bedrooms on the eastern side of the house also have balconies, while the fourth bedroom on the lower ground level opens out on to the lawn.
“It was a fabulous teenage house because of the generous size of the bedrooms which provides some separation and independence.”
The lower ground level also houses a gym/yoga room. The double garage has internal access to the home. There’s also a dedicated storeroom, wine cellar and plant room (that houses the central heating, water heating system, tech and Sonos sound system).
“This is a forever home opportunity,” says Richard.
“The home offers size and volume while enjoying north-facing views to Waitemata harbour and after 20 years the family are offering it up for the next family to make lifelong memories.”
- 17 Ridings Road and 1B Warrington Road, Remuera, Auckland, are for sale by negotiation
