- Church elder’s waterfront home sells to a family, fulfilling his dying wish.
- The property had hosted countless weddings and community events free of charge.
- The new owners plan to make it their home, preserving the property’s legacy of generosity.
A West Auckland church elder has received his dying wish – a family has bought his waterfront home.
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Gordon Maskell’s daughter Carolyn told OneRoof that he had designed the house on Totara Road, in Whenuapai, as a place for celebrations.
Over the past 40 years, Gordon and his wife Nola hosted countless weddings on the grounds free of charge, providing joy to couples who couldn’t have otherwise afforded such a beautiful venue.
Inside the home, which was built by its builder-owner more than 30 years ago. Photo / Supplied
The Maskells, who were members of Massey Community Church, also hosted baptisms, anniversaries and birthdays at the 1.3-hectare estate, known locally as Cornerstone.
Carolyn said her father had passed away and Nola, now in her 90s, had moved out, but both had expressed a wish that the property remain a place of generosity and love, and not be carved up. “That’s what mum and dad would want,” she said, adding: “We had a few people come and say, ‘Oh, we’ll just knock it down and build’.”
Because the property was zoned future urban, there was a risk it would be snapped by a developer or land-bankers. Instead, the new owners, a large family from inner-city Auckland, plan to make it their home.
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The property, which had a list price of $5.8 million, was sold by Bayleys agents Ailsa McArthur and Angeline Wong as a “hidden waterfront sanctuary” and “life’s ultimate escape”.
Wong told OneRoof that the Maskells were incredibly happy that Cornerstone was going to another family.
When the property first hit the market in June, Carolyn told OneRoof the property had hosted more than 1000 people annually when Gordon was alive. “People would put marquees up and dress the grounds. Whoever wanted it just paid a koha towards power and water, and that was it,” she said.
The Maskells also made their house and grounds available to their church community. “It was used as a retreat for people,” said Carolyn. “The people attending always supplied food, dad and mum supplied the tables and chairs.”
The property’s water views and location are a huge drawcard. Photo / Supplied
She said her parents had been deeply involved in the church, first at Te Atatū Bible Chapel and then Massey Community Church. “They felt people were more important than belongings. They shared everything with friends and people who might have been less fortunate. They loved that part of it. Dad was very social and loved talking to people.”
Carolyn said the water was an important part of the property’s appeal. She remembered one wedding where the bride and groom were whisked away after the ceremony on a boat. “They were friends, and they had a boat come in at high tide to take them away for their honeymoon. It was lovely.”
Gordon and Nola’s story began in the 1980s. Gordon was a builder and Nola owned a timber mill. They had both lost their partners and had met through mutual friends.
Carolyn told OneRoof her father had bought the land at Whenuapai for a low price and built the home himself, using timber from Nola’s mill.
“They had 39 years together before dad passed away,” Carolyn said.
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