A historic cottage on one of New Zealand’s shortest, most fun-packed streets is up for grabs.
The three-bedroom house at 1 Levina Avenue, in Aro Valley, Wellington, is in the heart of the city’s creative district and has many claims to fame, not least as the birthplace of the ArOlympics.
The house and street can only be accessed by steps from Hōniana Te Puni Street, which until May this year was called Epuni Street.
Once up the steps, visitors are faced with a range of homes, which are anything but bland, thanks in part to a colour consultant in the neighbourhood.
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The cottage for sale at 1 Levina Ave, was occupied for seven years by illustrator Stephen Templer, who is known for his wall art and his friendship with Flight of the Conchords star Jemaine Clement with whom he collaborates on the comedy podcast The Mysterious Secrets of Uncle Bertie's Botanarium.
The home’s dining table was the birthplace of both the annual ArOlympics, where local streets compete with each other in sporting events, and the suburb’s ongoing bid to host the 2078 Olympics, which Templer and a friend launched.
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“The drive to host the Olympic Games in Aro Valley in 2078 began in Levina Avenue,” Templer told OneRoof. “It’s a huge movement, which is gaining momentum.”
Templer, who raised his daughter in the cottage, said he wished he’d owned it and was keen to see the listing. “I loved living in Levina Avenue because it’s a very friendly and connected neighbourhood,” he said.
“The beautiful steps wind up [from Hōniana Te Puni Street]. It’s like walking into a small Italian village. The cobbled path meanders up the hillside with different doors on each side. You get the sense that you’re in a little enclave. There were lots of great characters on Levina Avenue.
“My daughter and I spent many hours creating plasticine cities and towns as the afternoon sun flooded the house. And it’s a great house for entertaining because it has the backyard.
Stephen Templer, far left, with comedian Jemaine Clement, musician James Milne and writer Duncan Sarkies. All four collaborate on the hit podcast The Mysterious Secrets of Uncle Bertie's Botanarium. Photo / Supplied
The cottage faces west and makes the most of the afternoon sun. Photo / Supplied
“For an artist living there, the environment was a great landscape for the imagination. You felt like you were hiding away in a little tree house.”
He added: “The historical nature of the street and the beautifully coloured houses were always a source of inspiration. It was a great place to let your imagination wander because there are lots of spaces and tracks, and you’re close to the park.”
One of the works he created at the cottage was Epuni Street Lawnmowers, which is set around the nearby home of Lowe & Co real estate agent Elise Boulieris, who has been tasked with selling 1 Levina Ave.
Despite being small (it’s roughly 60 metres long and boasts just five houses) Levina Avenue had its own team in the ArOlympics. “Levina Avenue was one of the smallest nation streets, but a powerhouse in the Olympics,” said Templer. “There was lots of comedy and beautiful interaction.”
Boulieris told OneRoof that the home, which has an RV of $1.42 million, caught the sun in the afternoon. “It’s very fortunate to be on the right side of the street,” she said, adding that the cottage would appeal to first-time buyers or professionals looking to make their mark on a property.
“It’s elevated to get the late sun, which is fantastic and has a lovely wraparound veranda.”
She added: “You could never walk up the avenue and expect to go straight into your home. You really needed a good five, 10 minutes because someone’s either coming or going at any given time and you have to stop to have a chit-chat.”
- 1 Levina Avenue, in Aro Valley, Wellington, has a deadline sale date of September 12
