As former Warriors Captain Steve Price starts a new chapter with the Bulldogs in Sydney it’s time for his family to farewell their big, beloved former Auckland home.
Steve has been back in Australia with his school teacher wife Jo for two years and has just been appointed GM of Football for the Bulldogs in Sydney.
They bought this 1910 Mt Albert villa in 2009 with a view to doing it up and Steve says: “The old girl came up absolutely beautifully after our renovations.”
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Steve enjoys bringing the best out of old houses.
“I instantly loved this one’s character, high ceilings, big bedrooms and handy location not far from St Lukes. We found the location brilliant wherever we were heading, be it to Mt Smart, the airport, city or onto motorways.”
He could immediately see how he’d evolve the layout, a core part of which involved pushing out the kitchen to create a spacious rear kitchen-living-dining room with wide-opening stacker doors flowing out to a big rear deck.
They renovated and moved in so eldest daughter Jamie-Lee, now 23-years-old and recently in the Australian 2019 World Cup netball squad which the Silver Ferns beat, could attend MAGS. Steve, who retired from playing in 2010, was keen to lend a hand, wielding a sledgehammer during the demolition phase.
He says: “In summer we’d spend all our time in the lounge with the doors opened up.
“We’d often have all the kids’ friends over after school. It’s a great house for parties and entertaining.”
Kiwi mates including Warriors players used to jibe ‘you can tell an Aussie lives here because all the windows have shark-mesh fly screens on them.’
Steve recalls: “Once Lance Hohaia was over and didn’t notice a screen on a door he was legging it towards; running right into it and just bouncing off it. It was hilarious to watch.”
The front rock wall has an intercom security gate plus a vehicular gate securing off-street parking fronting the tandem garage, which is drive-through to a rear parking pad for boat parking.
The villa’s smart beige and white exterior colour scheme is topped with a darker roof.
Steve says visitors were often surprised the home was larger than they expected on approach; its high-stud emphasising the spaciousness.
As the Prices have three children (Jamie-Lee, daughter Casey, now 21, and son Riley, now 18 and signed with the Cowboys in Townsville) the four big bedrooms were much appreciated. These include the roomy master with walk-in-wardrobe and ensuite.
There’s also an office and a renovated family bathroom.
It’s easy to see how the big rear kitchen-living-dining room opening wide to the deck would suit family life or entertaining. The kitchen with dark timber cabinetry is on gas and is well located so Jo could cook and still be in the thick of things.
Steve says: “I had the separate studio set up as my gym but it can equally be another bedroom.”
The rear outlook is pleasantly open and you can see in to the Sky Tower. There’s rear lawn and also a significant side patch of lawn which could accommodate a swimming pool if desired.
Anne Duncan agent Vincent Barnao says: “This is a fabulous home in MAGS zone close to all amenities which will be in high demand.”
