Considering the landscape design and engineering backgrounds of the owners of 295 Wright Road, Matakana, it’s no surprise that the hectare of land is a beautifully landscaped delight.
Now listed for sale by negotiation with Bayleys Matakana agents Kellie Bissett and Jon Williams, the property has a 2021 rating valuation of $1.175 million. According to OneRoof data, it last changed hands in 2007 for $560,000.
Buying the property from family members, Tracy and Phil were then on a mission to renovate the once shabby buildings into versatile spaces that are up to standard, if not over-specced.
With business interests in tiles and paving stones as well as marble and granite benchtops, their home was always bound to have great finishes – from the external paths to the generous kitchen in the main house.
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“We’ve got the beautiful stone benchtop and then the driveway has cobbled borders and beautiful paving,” Tracy says. “Those touches are a bit special really.”
The original farmhouse for what was once a 180-acre dairy farm, the two-bedroom bungalow retains character features with a fully modernised open-plan interior.
A newer two-bedroom minor dwelling is fully self-contained with an open-plan kitchen/living area and many of the same perfectionist touches.
The outdoor spaces, like this sunken courtyard garden between the bungalow and studio, are the stars of the show. Photo / Supplied
Bissett says that as well as a private home, 295 Wright Road would suit a number of business ventures as two further outbuildings – the harvest room and the one-bedroom studio garage – make for great flexible workspaces.
As Tracy works for well-known landscape architecture studio Shafer Design, the outdoor spaces were always going to be the star of the show.
“Most of it with a property this size is thinking about the landscaping in a clever way because we had to be sensible and keep the maintenance of it down,” she says.
“We used hedges and feature trees to give a lot of impact and create those different spaces.”
A standout space is the sunken courtyard garden between the bungalow and studio, a spot with an outdoor fire that Tracy and Phil often gravitate towards with guests when entertaining.
The generously-sized kitchen in the main house opens out to a deck for al fresco dining and entertaining guests. Photo / Supplied
There are five bedrooms, two bathrooms and a double garage at this one-hectare Matakana property. Photo / Supplied
“It feels quite private and secluded. I think that that’s probably the winning feature of the property,” Tracy adds.
The beautiful landscaping is quite a change from the previous bare farmland with an effort made to maintain the rare pocket of native bush left by the original owner of the dairy farm at the border of the property.
With Tracy and Phil putting in the hard yards to establish a self-sufficient garden, she is particularly proud of the wild prairie-style garden and the star jasmine bank.
A quince tree and several 50-year-old rambling fig trees were also salvaged from an old orchard, while two guava trees grow up through the decking that steps down after wrapping around the bungalow.
“It’s just magic sitting out there on the deck – the view of the hills and the paddocks below, native bush on the hills,” Tracy says. “It’s just a stunning spot to sit.”
The newer two-bedroom minor dwelling is fully self-contained with an open-plan kitchen/living area. Photo / Supplied
Bissett adds, “The extraordinary views are quite unexpected. Set off by stunning landscaping and with two dwellings and multiple outbuildings, the property sits just off Matakana Road amid Matakana’s prettiest farming community.”
Tracy says the property feels very rural and secluded, though Matakana village is only three minutes away – they love showing off their little town and enjoying the nearby beaches and wineries when friends come to stay.
“It’s just a fun village with the markets, beautiful boutique stores, the cinemas and yet it’s a hop, skip, and a jump to get on the motorway and get down to the city,” Tracy says.
