- One of the Ngapipi Road boatsheds is heading to auction next week.
- The 100sqm property, used as an event venue, offers various possibilities for new owners.
- Heritage-protected, the sheds require a specific colour scheme and can only be used for marine purposes.
One of Auckland’s iconic boatsheds is attracting a lot of attention as it heads to auction next week.
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Listing agents told OneRoof that buyers were curious to see what's inside the 100sqm property on Orakei’s Ngapipi Road. "It's currently being used as an amazing entertainment and event venue,” Matt Bayley said.
“However, this is a blank canvas with plenty of possibilities. It could be used as a man-cave, she-shed, an office, or even to store a boat, which is what our vendors did originally.”
Boatshed 11 has been refurbished inside and out, according to the listing. Photo / Supplied
The heritage protected property overlooks Whakatakataka Bay. Photo / Supplied
Bayley, who is marketing Boatshed 11 with Bayleys colleague John Greenwood, told OneRoof that there had been strong interest in the property. He'd even taken a phone call from an international celebrity, although he declined to name them for privacy reasons.
"We had people saying that they always wanted to see inside, they've always had such a fascination with them. We had six people look through, even though it wasn't the best weather," Bayley said.
"Next weekend we've got an open home at sunset on Sunday night, so people coming back from holiday can have a look. It has the best sunsets from there."
Baylet said the shed was a "true collector’s item", noting in his listing that "these unique landmarks are seldom available in such pristine condition".
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The vendor told OneRoof her family had owned the shed for 10 years. When they bought it, her "girls were into sailing, so for the first few years, we used it as a boat shed. As they got older, I used it as my art studio."
She added: “We’ve enjoyed many happy occasions here – including lots of milestone birthdays and Christmas lunches.
“When I lived in Remuera, it was easy to come down and use the boathouse for socialising – or simply throw open the doors and enjoy the spectacular sunsets, but now I’m on Waiheke it doesn’t get used as much as it deserves.
“I think it’s time for it to go to someone else, who appreciates what a special place this is and wants to put their own mark on it.”
Also up for grabs is Boatshed 18 on Ngapipi Road. It is listed with New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty agent Paul Sissons and has a $1.85m price tag. Photo / Supplied
No.18 has been pitched as the biggest Ngapipi Road boatshed. It certainly presents as the most luxurious. Photo / Supplied
The vendor, who wished to remain private, said she had carried out a lot of work on the shed, including replacing the piles, walls, and roof and restoring the original wooden beams.
While most of the sheds on the edge of Whakatakataka Bay are used as offices or retreats, one of them is still occupied by a genuine boat builder.
The sheds are also heritage protected and Auckland Council requires that the cream and green colour scheme is adhered to, so that they all look roughly the same outside.
Owners have a right to occupy under a coastal permit via resource consent, but the sheds cannot be lived in, only used for marine and boating purposes.
No.15 isn't the only Ngapipi Road boatshed on the market for sale.
No.18 has been on the market for over a year now and has an asking price of $1.85 million. It is one of the biggest on the strip row and is fitted with galley kitchen-style cabinetry, a bathroom, a powder room, and a mezzanine floor with chillout zones and two breakout rooms.
Listing agent Paul Sissons, from New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty, also sold neighbouring No.15 in June 2023 for $2.05m - the highest price to date for one of the sheds. (No.15 has international film-star cred, having been the “office” setting for David Lomas Investigates, the series that helps reunite families and uncover lost family heritage.)
Sissons said interest in his listing had been steady. "Every day or two, we get people inquiring. I'm showing someone through this morning," he said, adding that having a price on the shed helped.
"They're specialised, designed for people with a boat. You can't live in it, just store the boats and do a bit of private entertaining. The rules are very strict, so we just call it a 'day bach'."
- 11/1 Ngapipi Road, Orakei, Auckland, goes to auction April 30
