Prior to its purchase off-market, in mid-2021 for $5.158 million, an attractive traditional villa in one of St Marys Bay’s most prestigious streets had been owned by the same family for over three decades.
The vendor was alerted to the property’s availability by word of mouth. He has since lovingly updated the home which still offers many original character features including high ceilings, wooden fireplace surrounds and bay windows during his relatively brief time as owner, restoring much of the woodwork, repainting the exterior, and getting consent for a third bathroom.
“Essentially, I was planning to make an already grand home even grander,” he says. “And most of the hard work has now been done.”
34 London Street in St Marys Bay, Auckland, is on the market for sale by auction on August 9. According to OneRoof data, the four-bedroom, two-bathroom property has a 2021 RV of $4.8m, and was listed for sale twice last year.
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Currently the house, which is set on an elevated site of about 613sqm, has a large kitchen, leading via a relaxed, open-plan floor layout to a dining and living area – situated on the ground floor. Three bedrooms and a very generous bathroom make up the remainder of this level, which is surrounded by spectacular, sun-soaked, wrap-around decking providing maximum sun exposure at all hours of the day.
On the next floor, a luxury master suite has been designed to take full advantage of its picturesque surroundings and as well as having an ensuite, it enjoys a study and living room, along with its own private balcony.
The owner seriously considered more major changes, including excavating the basement to install an office and movie room and also eyed the possibility of adding more bedrooms at the top of the house, from where the harbour views to Harbour Bridge, Westhaven Marina, Sky Tower and beyond are simply stunning.
The home has a large kitchen leading, via a relaxed, open-plan floor layout, to a dining and living area situated on the ground floor. Photo / Supplied
He says the fact that the section is one of just three double-unit sites in the street significantly adds to its appeal, bringing yet more exciting potential for future enhancement – and perhaps for even further development that might possibly include demolishing the current dwelling to build two units.
“I’m a keen walker so I go absolutely everywhere on foot, and I exercise my dog, Gracie, every day,” says the owner, who has decided to sell 34 London Street in order to embrace an opportunity for growing his business.
“We go across Jacobs Ladder Bridge, over the motorway, to Westhaven Marina and then we do a loop back home.”
From the home, the views to Harbour Bridge, Westhaven Marina, Sky Tower and beyond are simply stunning. Photo / Supplied
The attractive villa is set on an elevated site of about 613sqm, and has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, consent for a third bathroom and an internal-access double garage. Photo / Supplied
The owner says the property also includes an internal-access double garage and it sits safely behind impressive security gates.
“There is always a shortage of quality homes in this little pocket of greater Ponsonby, so buyers tend to jump on them when they come to market,” says listing agent Christina Casares of Bayleys, who is marketing the property.
“They’ll still pay a premium price if they find what they want.” She says that 34 London Street’s versatility is especially appealing. “You could build two homes on the site, but people like that there hasn’t been too much intensification around here so doing a grand renovation on the existing house would be very satisfying.”
