There was lots of love in the air 10 years ago when Michael and Stacey Smith purchased this landmark Cheltenham property which used to be known as the Domain Dairy.
For one thing, Kiwi-born Michael and his Canadian-born wife Stacey only spotted it during a whistle-stop visit to Devonport for his sister’s wedding. And while they knew its ability to function as two apartments stacked up financially, their love of its presence, character and historic nature featured strongly in their purchase decision.
Michael says: “We’d flown in for the wedding and drove past it without managing to go inside. But we took one of its sales flyers when we headed back overseas to our roles as a captain and chef-purser on super yachts.”
Stacey says: “I fell in love with it and drew a big heart on its flyer, which we pinned up in our cabin.”
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They bought it from overseas, envisaging it’d play a part in their future when they relocated to Devonport to live, which they did last year with their young son in tow.
The circa-1900 two-storey building features in historical walks. It operated as one of Devonport’s earliest corner shops, sometimes as a general store, postmaster’s office and dairy. It remained open until conversion into a private residence in the 1980s, not long after acclaimed Kiwi photographer Robin Morrison photographed it proudly bearing its ‘Domain Dairy’ sign.
7 Tainui Road in Devonport, North Shore, Auckland, has a 2021 RV of $2.55 million. It is currently on the market for sale by auction on March 30. According to OneRoof data, the property last changed hands in 2008 for $1.175m.
Harcourts agent Michael Swarbrick, who is marketing the property, says: “This unique, historic property, a stone’s throw from the beach, has versatility as one home or two residential apartments, allowing owners to live in one and tenant the other or house extended family. Options to explore a small business such as an office make it even more versatile.”
Downstairs has two bedrooms and one bathroom, and its open-plan living-dining-kitchen has French doors leading out to a sunny patio. Photo / Supplied
The property still retains a special place in many hearts, with some locals having shopped there 40-plus years ago. One woman recalls: “I used to cycle to it en route to my cousin’s, often coming out with a bulging bag of mixed sweets.”
More recently its versatile internal set-up has been able to be two apartments or one home. Neighbourhood Centre zoning also means options can be explored to run a small business, such as boutique office premises.
Michael says: “We had it tenanted while we were overseas, with my dad living in the downstairs apartment for nine years until he moved to Whangarei recently. It’s so close to Cheltenham beach, he’d walk to it with no shirt on and a towel slung over his shoulder.”
Number seven sits proudly on the corner of Tainui Road and Eton Avenue, with each apartment having its own entrance. They’re divided by a fire door which can easily be eliminated to create one large home. High batten ceilings and native timber floors combine with modern functionality throughout.
Number seven sits on the corner of Tainui Road and Eton Avenue and was once a general store, postmaster’s office and dairy, until it was converted into a private residence in the 1980s, when acclaimed Kiwi photographer Robin Morrison photographed it proudly bearing its ‘Domain Dairy’ sign. Photo / Supplied
The Eton Ave entrance introduces internal stairs to upstairs’ four-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment with a sunny living-dining-kitchen. Photo / Supplied
Downstairs’ two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment also has some pretty leadlights. Its’ open-plan living-dining-kitchen has French doors leading out to a sunny patio. Character entry gates to this paved area mean it could be used as off-street parking.
The Eton Ave entrance introduces internal stairs to upstairs’ four-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment with a sunny living-dining-kitchen.
Sea lovers Michael and Stacey still adore the landmark property and its character-laden seaside neighbourhood, also within walking distance to Vauxhall Road shops, Torpedo Bay, Devonport Village and ferry.
However, they’re selling to progress family life, considering a business opportunity.
