Lighthouses beckon boaties to shore while simultaneously protecting them from submerged dangers. Similarly, a home on a Mangawhai hill gazes over the surrounding countryside with a friendly yet watchful eye.
When Megan and Tom first purchased 31 Olive Grove in Mangawhai, Kaipara, in 2009 for $175,000 it was an empty site at the top of a steep driveway within the exclusive Wainikau subdivision. Surrounded in native bush and enjoying incomparable privacy and birdsong, the land was destined to become home to a character home that looked like it had been there forever.
Six months later, the couple found the perfect house: a transitional villa built in the early 1900s.
“The moment we saw it, we knew it was the right house for the hill. We wanted something with presence, something that would fit into its surroundings – something that would give the hill what it deserved,” Megan says.
Start your property search
Moving the house from Auckland’s One Tree Hill to Mangawhai heralded the start of a 10-year renovation.
Today, 31 Olive Grove in Mangawhai is on the market for sale with an asking price of $1.72 million. It has a September 2020 ratings valuation of $740,000.
The relocated, renovated villa sits atop a hill and has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a double garage. Photo / Supplied
“Honestly, I didn’t really want to do a do-upper, but we knew it would be worth it in the end,” Megan says. “It was a slow project because of funds so we just plugged away at it over the years and got in tradies when we could.”
Fast-forward to 2022 and the house has been lovingly transformed into a comfortable, timeless family home with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two living areas, a sun-drenched deck, and generous storage (novel for a villa).
Carefully restored ceilings, architraves, skirts, floors, lead-light windows, and fireplaces hark back to the home’s roots.
“When we relocated the house, the chimney was taken down which left us with fireplaces that weren’t functional. So many people suggested we GIB over them – which we thought was outrageous. The original tiles are just amazing, and the fireplaces give the home such personality. We’re so glad we kept them,” Megan says.
In the kitchen, the couple proudly cook with olive oil that has come from right outside their front door.
The original fireplaces and tiles in the Mangawhai villa in Kaipara have been kept and meticulously maintained. Photo / Supplied
It took the current homeowners 10 years to renovate the villa that had been relocated from Auckland's One Tree Hill. Photo / Supplied
“The subdivision developers planted olive trees on each block, and every year the owners pick their produce and make their own oil. Last year we took our olives to a press that has won awards for their oil, and they said ours was better than theirs,” Megan says.
Within the Wainikau subdivision is a communal swimming pool and tennis court. With only 11 lots in the subdivision, many of them owned by Aucklanders who travel to Mangawhai during the holidays, Megan and Tom are often the only ones in the pool.
Megan and Tom are now reflecting on the home that has become a major character in their life story. That home is being marketed by Ray White, Mangawhai agents Kaye McElwain and Shane Romani.
“I’ve lived in a few places around the world, but this is the longest time I’ve spent in any house. It’s going to be the one I’ll miss the most, not just because of the time and energy we’ve poured into it but also because it’s an X-factor home that has so much going for it. It’s just so special. After putting so much into it, it really has been part of us,” Megan says.
