When David and Cherie bought this hidden gem in 2010, a 1884 character home tucked away on 1366sqm, it had had only three previous owners in 126 years.
They were living nearby with their two young daughters when Cherie spotted its roadside For Sale sign when jogging.
She says: “I took a peek down the long driveway because we wanted somewhere with more space. I fell in love with it immediately. It was very private with big grounds and a character home I felt could benefit from our love. It’s always felt like a sanctuary.”
Papers left by the previous owners of 40 years, show it was one of the area’s original homes built on former farmland for Dr James Torrance, ‘Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery’. He named it Cadzow Villa after his family’s Scottish origins but it passed to family members when he died only four years later from a neuromuscular disease.
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In 1912, the Warden of St John’s Theological College, Reverend Percy Smallfield, bought here, before a builder and his family purchased in 1971, doing a big 1970s renovation.
David says: “We lived in it as is for a while, moving out for a year to do a major architectural renovation. We wanted to open up the living area, create separate living spaces and upgrade the whole property, inside and out.
“Our now adult daughters were aged nine and seven when we bought here and we added on a floor specifically for them.”
The resulting floor plan at 8 Liverpool Street, in Epsom, is about 498sqm. The five-bedroom, three-bathroom property is for sale by a set date closing November 21. It has a 2021 CV of $5.1 million and, according to OneRoof data, last changed hands in 2010 for $1.2m.
The family-dining-kitchen with walk-in pantry plus adjoining office opens out to a wrap-around deck.
The intricate heritage-design French tiles at the entry foyer is flanked by two living areas.
Cherie says: “It’s been a wonderful place for them to grow up. Their friends gravitated here, enjoying the swimming pool we added and many occasions from birthdays to pre-balls.”
They built a new double garage at the front of the gated home, alongside generous open-air parking. It neighbours a wonderfully flat front lawn. The home is awash with decks and a patio which incorporates the heated saltwater pool and spa pool. The covered front veranda’s width accommodates an outdoor lounge suite and that’s one of their favourite places to relax.
Cherie chose intricate heritage-design French tiles for the floor of the entry foyer, which is flanked by two living areas.
The family-dining-kitchen with walk-in pantry plus adjoining office opens out to a wrap-around deck. A more formal living-dining room inviting evening drinks or quiet retreat has some timber wall panels, including those superbly lining a bay, dado rails and native timber flooring.
The ensuited master suite with walk-in wardrobe accompanies two more bedrooms, another bathroom and a powder room on this level. The girls enjoyed their own sitting room in their next-floor-up quarters with two bedrooms and bathroom.
The 498sqm residence sits on 1366sqm and has five bedrooms, three bathrooms and garaging for two vehicles.
The home is awash with decks and a patio which incorporates the heated saltwater pool and spa pool.
A possible sixth bedroom accompanies the large attic-study-office space, under gabled ceilings. Former garaging under the main level was reinvented as a big recreation room and additional storage. The warmly welcoming home with radiator heating is ready to live in immediately.
There is still further potential to develop this rec room level more, perhaps to accommodate an au pair or extended family.
The couple have enjoyed this location, close to Cornwall Park for their cavoodle Raffie’s walks and to Greenwoods Corner’s delights. Their daughters caught the bus from just down the road into Diocesan School. Now they’re empty-nesters they’ll downsize.
Ray White’s Richard Thode says: “This stunning property is rare, restful, private and generous. It’s somewhere you can buy and stay for many years, watching your children grow up through all their significant birthdays.”
- 8 Liverpool Street, Epsom, Auckland, is for sale by a set date closing November 21
