- An art deco home linked to the unsolved Crewe murders is for sale in Pahiatua.
- The 1930s house, renovated by 1Geo owner Steve Greening, has a $620,000 CV.
- The property has attracted significant interest and is expected to fetch $700,000-plus.
An art deco mansion linked to one of the country’s biggest unsolved murders has hit the market for sale.
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The freshly renovated 1930s concrete home at the end of Wakeman Street, in Pahiatua, was built by the grandfather of Harvey Crewe, whose murder in 1970 shocked the nation.
According to a birth notice in the Pahiatua Herald in 1941, Crewe was born in the house, which was known at the time as The Barrington.
It is not known how long he spent at the house, but it is believed he moved out of the area when he was a child. He was living in a farmhouse in Pukekawa, in the Waikato, when he was shot and killed along with his wife Jeanette. The murder case remains unsolved.
Harvey and Jeanette Crewe were shot dead in their Pukekawa farmhouse in 1970 then dumped in the Waikato River. Photo / Supplied
The art deco home has been extensively renovated and includes a new kitchen and bathrooms. Photo / Supplied
The historic home has changed hands several times over its almost 100-year history. Tararua District Council owned it for a short period so it could install a new water tank for the town and after a slight boundary change it was on-sold to Christchurch-based firm 1Geo in 2022 to house a large crew of workers who were carrying out earthquake strengthening in the area.
1Geo owner Steve Greening told OneRoof he loved Pahiatua and the house. He initially planned to flick the property after his crew finished their strengthening work, but he started fixing things here and there, and before he knew it he had carried out a full renovation.
“We did everything – everything,” he said, noting that he had spent about $20,000 on the tiles alone.
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“I’m going to lose money on it, but I don’t care, it’s a great house. Hopefully the next person will come along and they will absolutely love it.”
He added: “I love Pahiatua. It’s a really safe community and a beautiful place. I’ve joined the RSA and the pool club so when I’m away, I’m not really away.”
The completion of the new overpass – the Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū-Tararua Highway – later this year would make the town even more accessible and Greening believed the town would become a suburb of Palmerston North.
“As soon as that opens it is going to be so fast. It will be 17 minutes from Palmerston North.”
Some of the forestry was removed to let the light in and expensive planting has been done. Photo / Supplied
Property Brokers agent Patrick Baker said the home had been lovingly renovated and restored in keeping with its character.
A recent engineering report came back with glowing reviews of the house, he said, which was a testament to the old home’s soundness and structural integrity. The house sits on a spacious 8464sqm section.
However, the contracting firm now had work elsewhere and the property was being sold as it was now surplus to the business’ requirements.
The property had attracted a lot of attention ranging from local families to people who loved art deco, Baker said. People were also travelling from nearby Feilding, Palmerston North and Horowhenua to view it. “It’s intrigued a lot of people.”
The CV for the five-bedroom, three-bathroom home is $620,000, but Baker said the price was likely to be north of that, probably in the $700,000s.
He said it was good buying for the area, adding that a similar house in Palmerston North would sell for a lot more. “If it was over in Palmerston North, it would have a one in front of it. It’s definitely value for money,” he said.
- 67 Wakeman Street, in Pahiatua, Tararua, is for sale, tender closing March 12
