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A fire in the council's records office decades ago means Douglas Page isn't sure of the history of his Tudor-style terrace house in Parnell, but it may have been used as a brothel.
"I've been told it was a house of ill repute but I don't know," he says. "Unfortunately, the fire in 1934, or whenever it was, destroyed all the records, but I've seen old photos so you're looking just at the turn of the last century, the 1800s to the 1900s."
Although the house is not listed, it has witnessed much change over the century, he says.
All around here was farmland when the house was built, but now the area has little villas tucked in beside new builds -- the city has grown up around the history.
His house is at the end of a row of six houses which locals know as the Tudor houses at the end of York St.
People love it when they come here, he says, because of the cosiness and character, but also because of the sense of stepping back in time a little bit.
Apartments in the vicinity are very nice, he says, but they don't ooze the quirkiness of his place where the black and white Tudor theme outside is continued inside with black and white tiles, and where the first room inside the front door is the one he calls the parlour.
There is a cosy fireplace here, perfect for receiving visitors, and further down is the modern, open plan kitchen and dining room, which also has a fireplace.
The house was a bit of a mess when he bought it, he says, but he has poured a lot of love into restoring the original character.
Image 1 of 6: This quirky character will delight those with a penchant for nostalgia and Auckland history
He redid the "the whole shooting box", hunting through second-hand shops and demolition yards for just the right features. Skirting boards have been recycled, along with ceiling roses, fireplaces, kauri mantelpieces, and the stained glass windows throughout. He reckons all up there is a fair amount of bits and pieces of historic Auckland in here now. He gibbed the whole place and has put in plenty of heaters, and also put in a laundry by the deck which leads out from the kitchen to the double garage with the electric gates.
"It was very rough and when I took it on, I thought, 'God, have I done the right thing?' It's like selling the place -- am I doing the right thing?'"
The question arises because he has loved living here for the last 15 years. The location is fabulous; a short stroll to Parnell's cafes or a short bus ride to Newmarket or the city. But it's the character and comfort of his home he loves the most. The staircase leads up to two bathrooms, one of which has a bath under the window so you can look out over Parnell while you soak. Two bedrooms share a balcony which looks out to sea, and Douglas' snug -- painted a warm yellow -- is where he likes to read or watch TV.
On the third level, the stairs open to a big attic-like space which he uses for his office, but which could easily make a big bedroom. The views are even better up here, taking in the port and the red tiled roofs of historic Parnell.
The house has become too big, he says, and his plan is to move to another historic location.
