Beauty with a moving past in Greenhithe

9A Olwyn Pl, Greenhithe. Photo / Geoff Dale

9A OLWYN PL GREENHITHE

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SIZE: Land 4029sq m; house 198sq m (approx).

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected above $1 million. Auction November 24 (unless sold prior).

INSPECT: Sun 3pm-4pm.

ON THE WEB: www.bayleys.co.nz/301465095

SCHOOL ZONES: Greenhithe Primary School, Albany Junior High School, Albany Senior High School.

CONTACT: Clare Ellis, Bayleys North Shore, ph 487 0618 or 021 614 778.

FEATURES: Restored Second Empire-style kauri villa with character features such as a turret tower and wood panelling, plus modern conveniences. Two living areas, country-style kitchen/dining area and master suite with walk-in wardrobe and en suite.

You'd expect a 1906 Second Empire-style villa to come laden with history, but this lovely specimen is also well-travelled.

Owner Shelley Bakhuizen has restored the home, which she knew she wanted to own "do or die" the minute she laid eyes on it. But it wasn't until later she found out about its diverse history and resting places.

The home was built in 1906 for Reverend William Barnett on a large block of land fronting Tauranga's 12th and 13th Avenues. Designer Mr A Ager chose the Second Empire style, complete with turret and "widow's walk".

Woolworths wanted to buy the site, so in 1964 a subsequent owner of the villa moved it about a mile down the road in Tauranga.

But relatives who inherited the property earmarked that land for other uses, and in the early-90s the picturesque villa was relocated to its third setting in Warkworth.

Then, about a decade ago, it was relocated for the fourth time to its current 4029sq m section in Greenhithe, set back from the road down a driveway.

Shelley immigrated to New Zealand from South Africa with her son Luke and bought the house in March 2008.

"In South Africa they build with brick and plaster and I think some of New Zealand's wooden homes have so much character," she says. "And I loved this home's look, as it's really unusual with its little turret. It's so striking strangers come down the driveway and ask if they can look through."

She repainted the home in Resene "Tana" accented with "Alabaster", making the exterior appealing and elegant. The formal front path, flanked by standard topiary, was one of the recommendations of her landscaper.

The covered, columned veranda gives a lovely sense of welcome to a front door flanked by Muranese windows featuring diamond-shaped leadlight glass in soft pastel hues. The entrance hall is something special, with wooden wall panelling, polished kauri floors, interesting angles and a diamond-patterned, pressed-tin ceiling reigning over the high stud.

Sun pours into the formal lounge, which has bay windows and walls sheathed in wide wooden boards. The second living room has French doors opening to a deck for outdoor entertaining (although Shelley and Luke use this room as their study).

Shelley has renovated the open-plan kitchen-dining room in an elegant country style, installing granite and kauri benches, a rectangular butler's sink and a heat pump.

Rounding off this level are a bedroom opening to its own little deck, the family bathroom with claw-foot bath and shower with its original copper floor, and a separate laundry.

An ornately carved newel post introduces the staircase to upstairs. The master suite has generous dimensions, with its own balcony, walk-in wardrobe and a spacious en suite with claw-foot bath. A third claw-foot bath anchors the smartly renovated black-and-white bathroom off the upper hall. A door nearby reveals generous attic storage.

Luke's bedroom is the home's third and a pull-down attic ladder in its roof leads up to a little room in the turret. From here, adventurous sorts can climb up the turret-top "widow's walk" and examine the outlook from behind its ornamental iron railing.

There's a double garage alongside the villa and the local kindergarten and Greenhithe Primary School are within walking distance.

Shelley is loathe to relinquish her special home, described as "a handsome and commodious villa" in a 1906 Bay of Plenty Times article. But it makes sense for the Bakhuizens to move closer to Ardmore Flying School where Luke is training to be a pilot.