After moving to Greenhithe from Grey Lynn two years ago, Mimi Gilmour Buckley has become an unofficial spokesperson for the quiet waterfront suburb.
“I pitch it to everybody,” she laughs, “you’re just 20 minutes from downtown Auckland. I still work centrally but it’s so peaceful – there’s something so old-world and charming about Greenhithe.”
With unique semi-rural village character, the area is complete with the pony club, English-style family pub, The Malt, the wharf for fishing and kayaking, and well-known The Collins Café & Bar.
While a move across the bridge might as well be one across the planet as far as many townies are concerned, the pull of 49B Roland Road’s beauty proved too strong for Mimi, husband Stephen and their now three children, Olympia, 7, Octavia, 4, and Augustus, 6 months.
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“This sounds woo woo but this property transformed our family energy and life so much – the flow of it, the scale of it. The garden is so established that it feels so private, but you get all-day sun everywhere,” Mimi says.
49B Roland Road in Greenhithe, North Shore, Auckland, is on the market for sale by deadline sale closing June 4. The four-bedroom, three-bathroom property has a 2021 RV of $2.45 million and OneRoof data shows the property last changed hands in 2022 for $3.025m.
Lush, 1200sqm park-like grounds, with their mature trees and beautiful hydrangea beds, and the elegant yet wonderfully functional residence, were a serene and spacious oasis after 15 years of cramped city-fringe living, plus offered tranquil respite from the couple’s incredibly busy work lives.
Mimi is the founder of not only Mexico and Burger Burger restaurants, which Stephen is co-CEO of, but her latest venture, mindful skincare brand, IAMMI.
Their classic, villa-style two-level home is built in a C-shape around a central courtyard and water feature, which creates a series of well-separated wings to relax and reset, both inside and out.
The entry foyer flows into the open-plan, farmhouse-style kitchen and dining space which opens out into the garden. Photo / Supplied
The 258sqm home sits on 1200sqm of lush grounds, mature trees and beautiful hydrangea beds. Photo / Supplied
“If Stephen wants to do work or I want quiet time, we can split up and be oblivious to the fact that there are kids at the other end of the house. My mum also often comes and stays at the weekend in the guest suite upstairs and that’s lovely for her – it’s private, quiet and she’s got a bathroom.”
The impressive entry foyer flows into the open-plan, farmhouse-style kitchen and dining space in one wing and the sitting room and separate lounge in the other, all opening to the garden. Rustic brick floors are cool in summer and warm in winter, while restful white walls and ceilings painted in Resene Half Rice Cake enhance space and light. Leadlights and walls of French doors add to the heritage feel and bring the outside in.
“It’s got that charm of the past but was only built 20 years ago. It’s incredibly well-built and insulated and we’ve also updated all the heat pumps.”
There are two bedrooms and two bathrooms on the ground floor. This includes the master with walk-in wardrobe and garden access, and the other large bedroom, also with ensuite, that the family use as a kids’ playroom. Of the two further bedrooms upstairs, one also enjoys its own walk-in wardrobe and ensuite. Options abound for alfresco entertaining, and the couple have irrigated the entire property and made it more easy-care. They are happy to share landscaping plans drawn up for a pool with the new owners.
“We also turned the shed out the back into a little health room. The previous owners had it set up as an office, but we put a sauna and a bike in there.”
As for the upcoming move, it will be done with heavy hearts.
“I’m a little bit devastated but we’ve had an amazing two years here. Olympia, my eldest daughter, has quite a lot of special needs and I had plans done to make adjustments to this house to make it more user-friendly for her, but it felt like we were trying to force a square peg into a round hole,” Mimi says.
The sitting room and separate lounge is in one wing. Photo / Supplied
Options for alfresco entertaining are plentiful and the gardens have irrigation making them easy to care for. Photo / Supplied
“It’s such a wonderful home and is perfect as it is, and us ripping it apart to try and put a ceiling hoist in and accessible bathrooms – we thought we should probably just leave it to someone who loves it just the way it is. When you have a disabled child, your needs are just different. Our priority is making sure that everyone in our family lives their best life.”
But the Buckley Gilmour tribe isn’t going far.
“We bought a property up the road. I love the location – we walk to daycare, Octavia’s going to the local primary school, we can walk to the café and walk to the park,” Mimi says.
“It’s nice and flat and has a lovely easy, accessible community, and I’m into that. This property really did change our lives a lot – it bought so much calmness to our family that was needed. It’s been my haven.”
Harcourts agents Simone van Delft and Ronelle Henning, who are marketing 49B Roland Road, say: “We are beyond proud to represent Mimi and Stephen’s absolutely stunning property. Every time we enter the grounds of this unique home, in its prime Greenhithe location, we instantly feel that sense of peace and tranquillity that welcomes us.
“It has all the charm, grace and character features of a traditional villa but this 1996 magical beauty also possesses all the modern luxuries and conveniences for the busy family of today. Privately nestled amongst mature trees and with a gorgeous abundance of hydrangeas, it’s that very special, warm and welcoming sanctuary that we rarely see come to the market.”
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