- A Hamilton penthouse with a 203sqm balcony is for sale for $1.08 million.
- Owners Eleanor and Andy Harlow transformed the dilapidated caretaker's cottage into a New York-style home.
- The couple plans to live on a yacht in the Marlborough Sounds or Northland.
A central Hamilton penthouse with one of New Zealand’s biggest balconies - nearly twice the size of the actual apartment – is for sale for $1.08 million.
Start your property search
The unique home, tucked up on top of an old NZI building in the centre of Hamilton started life as a caretaker’s rooftop cottage and has been transformed into a stunning home.
Owners Eleanor and Andy Harlow told OneRoof that they were selling 8A/11 Garden Place so they could live on board a yacht in either the Marlborough Sounds or Northland.
The penthouse has a New York vibe. Photo / Supplied
The couple had been living in an apartment across the street when the caretaker’s cottage came up for sale in 2018.
Andy told OneRoof its large outdoor area had been a big drawcard because he was being driven nuts by the lack of outdoor space in their old apartment.
"I found it claustrophobic, and it was starting to get on top of me. That was the appeal of this apartment. The main deal was the outdoor and what we could do with the outdoor space.”
Discover more:
- The 'Jason Statham' effect: Why this home jumped $10m in price
- Ex-Warehouse chief sells his villa to overseas buyer for more than $8m
- Burger Fuel founder selling his bach - 'making money doesn't look likely'
The two-bedroom property was in a dilapidated state but they took the plunge and bought it for $434,000.
There were holes in the ceilings and walls and the staircase needed earthquake strengthening. The roof leaked and significant maintenance work was needed.
Eleanor’s experience as an interior designer and architect and Andy’s role as a flooring business owner, which saw him working high-end apartments in the UK, got them through the challenge.
The owners gutted the apartment and gave it a luxury makeover. Photo / Supplied
“We completely gutted the place,” Andy told OneRoof. “We wanted to create a New York feel. We took down walls, removed electrical equipment that was servicing the whole building but wasn't meant to be there. And we rewired it.
"We put in a new ceiling, new kitchen, timber floors, and new lighting. At one end of the apartment there's a big window adjacent to the kitchen that we put in. There's also a bifolding window at the kitchen end. We put that in as well.“
However, the pièce de resistance is the 203sqm wrap-around balcony, which the owners believe is one of the largest penthouse gardens in New Zealand.
“If you Google it, you will come across [huge balconies] in New York, Tokyo, and Singapore. I think it's unique for somewhere in New Zealand, let alone Hamilton."
The owners believe the penthouse would be worth almost $7m if it were for sale in the UK. Photo / Supplied
Andy credited his wife’s green fingers for the tropical masterpiece outside which includes Purple Heart timber decks, extensive plantings, an irrigation system, built in planter boxes and a spa.
“All the planting is low maintenance as well. It's got irrigation to all the plants. We've lost a few pots over the years. The spa can be included,” Andy said.
All of the planters and pots are included in the sale. “When it blows a gale, nothing falls over because everything's chained down as well,” he said.
The building allows pets, and until he died, the Harlows’ English Springer Spaniel Albert was extremely good at chasing off pigeons that wanted to set up home on the penthouse level of 11 Garden Place.
The couple were extremely proud of what they had achieved in the last seven years, but had decided to sell live on board a yacht in either the Marlborough Sounds or Northland.
“When we took the apartment on, that was our vision. Creating an outdoor living space and something a little bit different that we've seen happen overseas. We wanted to recreate that for the apartment. I think we've been quite successful in that part.”
The apartment also includes a secure car park, storage locker and the option to lease a second parking space
Andy estimated that their Hamilton apartment would, if situated in the UK, fetch £3m ($6.7m).
Lugtons listing agents Heather Whyte and Terry Whyte have, in their marketing, focused on the penthouse’s New York loft vibe.
“The open-plan living space features a striking Italian porcelain slate-tiled wall, adding depth and drama to the modern interior,” their listing on OneRoof says.
“The designer kitchen includes granite bench tops, an induction cook top, self-cleaning oven, and integrated appliances. Even the laundry is finished with matching cabinetry for a seamless look throughout.”
- 8A/11 Garden Place, Hamilton Central, Hamilton, is for sale for $1.08m
