Mark Townsend and his late wife Del knew exactly what lay ahead when they bought historic Batger House, on the edge of Mount Eden village, as a young couple in 1988.
“I’d literally taken our previous home in Kingsland apart completely and refurbished every single piece of wood, before putting it back together,” he says.
Batger House was set to be a project approached with similar, if not even more passion. Built in the 1880s it had been enhanced significantly by architect W A Holman for businessman John Manners Holman, who bought it in 1896.
Only four further owners inhabited the house before Mark and Del’s arrival and the enthusiastic pair immediately made plans to bring it into the looming new millennium – carefully and painstakingly, whilst preserving its rich heritage.
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Batger House at 2 Batger Road in Mount Eden, Auckland, is on the market for sale by auction on May 24. The villa sits on 1341sqm of land and has five bedrooms, one bathroom, garaging and off-street parking, and multiple living areas.
Listing agent Leila MacDonald, from Barfoot and Thompson in Remuera, sold the property to Mark and Del 35 years ago, and is delighted to be marketing it again, with David MacDonald and Paul Studman.
“I remember how funny it was because Mark and Del made their best offer to the previous owner, and he said it was $5000 too much and instructed me to go back to them with a reduced price. It’s the only time something like that has happened in my entire career!”
The villa was built in the 1880s; enhanced by architect W A Holman for businessman John Manners Holman who bought it in 1896; lovingly refurbished by the current owner and his late wife when they bought it in 1988. Photo / Supplied
The vendor sourced period wallpaper, including designs by Victorian artist William Morris. Photo / Supplied
Mark says: “The rear of the house is new, in the sense that we built it.”
Cleverly designed, this part of the dwelling flows seamlessly to and from the original layout and incorporates a separate laundry, toilet, period-style bathroom, family room and a sunny kitchen which enjoys views to the picturesque Italian-style garden with its softly burbling fountain and the melodious birdsong.
Having studied the home’s original features, Mark set about recreating many of them in the new extension.
“I found a clever man in Onehunga who was able to make copies of the male figures that are found on the friezes throughout the rest of the house,” he says, adding that he obsessively matched paints and finishes to ensure the home’s cohesion.
Mark and Del wallpapered most rooms with period appropriate patterns – including designs by Victorian artist William Morris, and devotedly looked after the hand-painted ceilings in the main lounge, which evoke a sense of the magnificent Sistine Chapel in Rome.
With the arrival of their two children, the couple added two bedrooms upstairs, which, once again, have been so well executed, you’d never dream they were a late addition.
The home's rich heritage and character was carefully and painstakingly preserved. Photo / Supplied
The current owner added an extension to the back of the house which looks out to a picturesque Italian-style garden with its softly burbling fountain. Photo / Supplied
The homeowner says: “I do hope that this special home sells to somebody who understands it and doesn’t come marching in with a big pail of white paint!” Photo / Supplied
Mark describes the turret at the top of the house as a ‘widow’s loft’. “A lady of those times would sit up here to watch for her husband’s tall ship sailing into the harbour and, if it didn’t, well, she was a widow.”
With its incredible street appeal, extensive basement workshop space, two garages, a carport and a sunny patio, – all surrounded by towering palms, the property is brimming with desirable aspects.
Three years after Del’s death, Mark has recently remarried and while his new wife Chrissy also loves the house and actively shares Mark’s passion for it, they are planning a new start in an apartment nearby.
Mark explains that the apartment is very modern and many of the treasures that fill Batger House won’t really work there, so much of the antique furniture and artwork collection he and Del so lovingly curated is available for sale to a new owner by negotiation.
“I do hope that this special home sells to somebody who understands it and doesn’t come marching in with a big pail of white paint!” Mark confesses.
Agent Leila understands Mark is hoping a new owner won’t want to modernise the house too much, but she knows he realises that time moves on, and homes evolve.
“They’ve done a wonderful job here and everyone who walks in agrees that it’s an amazing property.”
