Spanning a colossal 2048sqm and nestled at the very heart of Parnell, this prestigious Corunna Avenue property is a park-like haven that presents infinite potential.
The current owner, who lives next door, explains, “the opportunity presented itself when the people who owned it came to me and said that they were planning to sell. It’s a fantastic site and right on my boundary, so at the time I thought, ‘I’d love to get hold of that land and build myself a new house’.”
As well as its extraordinary proportions, the property has notable connections to New Zealand music royalty, as the owners he speaks of were Neil and Sharon Finn.
The couple owned the property for almost a decade, along with the villa next door at number 18, where they lived for many years. That was the home where both Liam and Elroy Finn grew up and also where Neil wrote and recorded some of his most famous songs, including Not the Girl You Think You Are, She Will Have Her Way, and Won’t Give In.
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While the land is currently occupied by a very well-kept, five-bedroom character home, it was the incredible privacy, position and possibilities that sealed the deal for him, says the owner.
“It’s an amazing site because its boundary is the Alberon Reserve – you can walk through it to the French Markets and down to the bottom of Parnell to St George’s Bay Road. And it creates a beautiful backdrop.”
15 Corunna Avenue in Parnell, Auckland, is on the market for sale by auction on February 22. The property has a 2021 RV of $6.9 million, of which the land value is $6.5m. According to OneRoof data, the property last changed hands in 2019 for $5.9m.
The section is 2048sqm and borders Alberon Reserve, and was once owned by musician Neil Finn and his wife Sharon for almost a decade. Photo / Supplied
The three-storey character home, spanning 244sqm, has five bedrooms and three bathrooms, garaging and multiple living spaces. Photo / Supplied
The owner worked with acclaimed architect Lawrence Sumich to draw up plans for a reimagined 1000sqm dream home to maximise the land.
Plans for the new four-bedroom luxury residence incorporate living that flows out to a pool, eight-car garaging, a theatre and bar area, as well as health spa-style zone with a huge gym, cryochamber area and sauna.
However, the pandemic put a spanner in the works and everything was put on hold. Over that time, circumstances changed and the owner found himself in an empty nest, which meant that such a large home simply wasn’t needed.
“Now two of my kids are living overseas and I’m away a lot, so I just don’t need it anymore,” he explains.
Should buyers wish to, they can go ahead and build the Sumich-designed home themselves.
“It’s all there, the design is done. It’s essentially at the point where it could be sent in for the building permits,” he says.
The owner worked with acclaimed architect Lawrence Sumich to draw up plans for a reimagined 1000sqm dream home to maximise the land. Photo / Supplied
15 Corunna Ave is one of only 22 homes in the cul-de-sac, and is located in the double grammar and Parnell School zones. Photo / Supplied
“I’ll give them everything that’s been done and introduce them to Lawrence if they want to take it to the next phase. It’s a real hidden oasis down there and protected from the wind. It is also very, very private. You’re not looking at your neighbours and you’re not worried about security.
“We redid all the perimeter walls and got it looking really good. I’m really only selling it as it is now surplus to requirements. I have no intention of moving or selling mine – it’s a great neighbourhood there.”
No.15 is one of only 22 homes found on Corunna Avenue’s prestigious cul-de-sac. It is located in the double grammar and Parnell School zones, as well as close to Auckland University. Parnell’s shopping and dining precinct are within easy walking distance, while the CBD, Newmarket and the waterfront are a pleasant stroll or short Uber ride away.
Listing agent Ross Tierney, from Ray White, is marketing the property, says the sheer size of the land and its parkside location down a right-of-way make it an incredibly rare opportunity for Parnell’s ‘golden triangle’.
“The site itself is north-facing and it has an almost 60m2 boundary to Alberon Reserve, so that in itself is quite unique,” he says.
“It is the 17th largest residential site available in the whole of Parnell, out of 1354 properties. You could build a single dwelling there but you could also, in theory, comfortably divide it in two and do a subdivision that would still be over 1000sqm each.”
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