Standing proudly at the heart of a new, revitalised, post-2011 Christchurch, 8 Wood Lane is cottage-like and almost unassuming when viewed within its leafy Fendalton street surroundings.
However, it opens up to stun anybody who sees it, revealing a top quality, elegant, character-filled, five-bedroom home, steeped in its own unique heritage and set on 3338sqm of private, park-like grounds on the banks of the picturesque Avon River, right next door to Hagley Park.
Top local architect Tim Devine worked with the current owners to redesign the original house, which they purchased in 2006. “My clients’ vision was to restore this historic homestead and revive a French Colonial gem, blending original elements with modern functionality,” he says.
The owner has French heritage and explains that she and her husband were immediately attracted to the site, once owned by pioneering miller, William Derisley Wood, who first arrived in the garden city in 1850.
Start your property search
Much love and care went into a no expense-spared, five-year rebuild, on the same footprint as the house that was there, a project which cleverly incorporated two original internal rooms from the Victorian era.
“As it is now, the house has real authenticity, with a tangible link between old and new,” says the owner.
8 Wood Lane in Fendalton, Christchurch, is on the market for sale by deadline treaty closing November 7. The five-bedroom, five-bathroom property with swimming pool, tennis court, four-garaging and 538sqm of floor space has a 2022 RV of $8.34 million.
The character-filled hallway with its high ceiling, crystal chandeliers, American oak flooring and heart Rimu doors and windows. Photo / Supplied
A family room, adjacent to the kitchen, with sliding windows and dubbed the ‘breeze room’, is the scene of airy lunches in summer and cosy dinners in winter. Photo / Supplied
Living takes place on the ground floor where the 1800s dayroom and lounge are complemented by a luxury master suite with its own utterly enviable dressing room and sensational bathroom.
A spacious Ingrid Geldof-designed, Provencal-style kitchen is the beating heart of the house, with an adjacent family room, while a special space with sliding windows, dubbed the ‘breeze room’ by family, is the scene of airy lunches in summer and cosy dinners in winter.
Attention has been paid to every single, tiny detail both inside and out, with crystal chandeliers and cast-iron radiators imported from Europe, along with American oak flooring, pressed metal ceilings in the kitchen and master suite and heart Rimu doors and windows.
Wine buffs will love the underground cellar. The very best construction and joinery experts worked on the property, lovingly handcrafting replicas of many original features as well as recycling stone from Lyttleton Quarry and Welsh slate roofing from a demolished building at Southland Hospital.
The luxurious master suite has its own enviable dressing room and sensational bathroom. Photo / Supplied
Christchurch architect Tim Devine says: “My clients’ vision was to restore this historic homestead and revive a French Colonial gem, blending original elements with modern functionality.” Photo / Supplied
Upstairs are four further bedrooms, two with ensuites, plus a family bathroom, TV nook and library shelving.
The views from this level are peaceful and green. Landscaping includes a second double garage, a full-size asphalt tennis court with pavilion, plus a year-round self-cleaning swimming pool, an Al Brown outdoor fire and pizza oven, stone fencing, and sophisticated mature planting by celebrated landscape designer John Marsh.
“While our property is much-admired in Christchurch, we think it would be equally appealing to people escaping busy lives in Auckland, expats returning home from overseas and other foreign buyers who appreciate not only the house but the sheer amount of outdoor space on offer,” says the owner.
Harcourts Gold agents Cameron Bailey and Charlie Horncastle, who are marketing the property, agree.
“It’s an absolute icon and properties like this don’t come to market very often. If somebody doesn’t take this rare opportunity it may be years before there’s anything else of the same calibre available,” Bailey says.
- Sponsored by Harcourts Gold
- 8 Wood Lane in Fendalton, Christchurch, is for sale by deadline treaty closing November 7
