There aren't many families in urban Auckland who can point to land that has been in their extended family for more than 50 years.
In 1966, when Sandy Pooley's great uncle bought a block of land on Kirkbride Rd, Mangere, it was rich market gardening land, neighbouring BlackBridge Nurseries.
The family built a stylish house designed by architect Graeme Murray at number 99. Its cool cedar and tile finish, gabled roofs and semi-enclosed courtyard hints at the Japanese style that was first coming into vogue.
Eventually, that original property was bought by Sandy's grandmother, who is still living there, aged 95.
In 1990, the adjoining property at 97 came into the family when a cousin bought it (some was subdivided off as the area now has valuable business zoning).
The well-kept bungalow at No 97 and its spreading gardens of more than 1600sq m was later bought by Sandy's brother before Sandy and her husband, Matthew, bought it in 2003.
"It was still really rural then. The house had been added to and constantly updated since 1990, but completely in character," she says.
"It's had kids in it for the past 26 years, first my cousin's, then my brother's. When we moved in, ours were 1 and 2; we've had two more since then. It's just a fantastic place to bring up kids."
Sandy knew the house well from visiting family, so her and Matthew's changes were gradual.
The floor plan has worked well for a growing family (the four kids are now 17, 15, 10 and nearly 2) as flexible living rooms can be opened and closed off according to what's going on.
The gracious front porch, with its striking red front door that matches the surrounding maple trees, invites sitting a while.
The glass-panelled door opens into an airy sitting room, big enough for the family's piano and still with its original bungalow beams.
Floors throughout are a mix of new carpets and polished native timber floors. Sliding glass doors open this room to the kitchen and dining room.
The kitchen got the biggest transformation only three years ago. A dark, internal kitchen and bedroom were combined into one sunny space.
The configuration gave Sandy the chance to install her favourite feature: an open scullery with shelves for appliances, tucked out of sight of the entertaining area.
The keen baker ("with four kids, and all the entertaining we do, you have to be" she laughs) got her double Electrolux ovens and an induction hob that she loves.
There's a striking stainless steel range hood, and grey stone-look Formica benches that visitors often mistake for real stone.
On the dining-room side, there's a built-in drinks cabinet and plenty of circulating room for guests.
A second sitting room that also opens to the expansive deck has a cosy wood stove - more for atmosphere, Sandy says, as the house is fully insulated and has heat pumps.
The deck, recently resurfaced, is shaded in the summer by a magnificent old jacaranda tree, one of many mature trees on the huge property.
The bedrooms are divided into two wings, each with separate hallway and a bathroom.
The Pooleys updated both bathrooms. A striking old claw-foot tub that Sandy's brother had originally installed in one bathroom is now black.
Sandy enjoys playing with colour, so has decorated each bedroom with rich-coloured paint and a delightful metallic rose wallpaper in a daughter's room. Over the years, the kids have swapped around bedrooms and various living rooms have had different uses.
A small cabin at the back of the section has had similar mixed history, functioning as a clothing store, a sewing room and, currently, overflow storage for fridge and freezer.
Sandy and Matthew have worked on the garden, most recently planting a boundary line with cherry trees. The neighbourhood has been ideal for the children.
As well as popping next door to their great-gran, the kids are able to bike and skateboard around the streets.
Mangere Bridge is a pretty village of cafes and cyclists, Ambury Park and the airport cycle paths are nearby and there are buses to schools at the end of the road.
But mostly, Sandy says, the garden has been home to numerous cricket and football games for generations - more than most public parks, she reckons - with kids, safely fenced and watched over by the extended family.
But now that her grandmother needs to move out of her family home, Sandy and Matthew have decided it is better to sell both properties together.
While each property on its own would make for a great country lifestyle so close to city and transport links, Sandy says that she can see someone wanting to buy both together to landbank for future opportunities as the city expands out to meet them.
