Born in Croatia, he moved to New Zealand as a teenager and first shifted to Papahia St in 1968, when he was 31. He lived at number 7, built a house at 7a then moved back to number 7.
He knew the previous owners of number 13, who lived there for half a century, and made it clear that he'd love to buy the house one day. When it eventually became available, he was able to purchase it without it going on the market.
"I have always loved this street - it is so peaceful, the loudest thing you hear are the tuis," says Tonci. "This house has the kind of garden you would find in Titirangi. There is no traffic noise, yet you are only a kilometre from Queen St. And you have Hobson Bay at the bottom of your garden."
A path leads down past the native trees in his large garden to Awatea Reserve and the Hobson Bay Walkway. It's a pleasant stroll around the bay to Shore Rd and the cafes there.
"You could keep a paddleboard or a kayak at the bottom of the garden and go out on the water at high tide," he says.
The huge back yard offers plenty of scope for development, and there's definitely room for a pool. Tonci has done very little to the house itself because he didn't want to mess with the beautiful craftsmanship.
The only significant changes have been to the kitchen and bathroom, which were updated for 21st century living, while still in keeping with the traditional style of the house.
The kitchen design makes clever use of space and includes stone bench tops and a gas hob. The bathroom is fully tiled and has underfloor heating.
Tonci says he contemplated painting the dark beams and panelling white, but decided against it "because this is the style of the house, the way it was meant to be".
The house has been immaculately maintained and period features have been preserved - for example, the door and window handles are all original.
The living room fireplace, with its curved brick pattern, is a classic example of Sholto Smith style, and makes an eye-catching focal point. The living and dining rooms are large, with an ambience ideal for entertaining.
There are three bedroom upstairs, including the spacious master bedroom, all with views of the bay. The smaller third bedroom, which has tongue-and-groove panelling, is used as a study.
Unlike many homes of this era, there are plenty of built-in cupboards, including one under the stairs, so storage is not a problem.
After all these years Tonci is still enchanted by the charm of the house and has loved living there, but age is catching up with him and he is finding the stairs hard work. He's bought a one-level home just a street away - "I really don't want to leave this area," - and now someone else has the chance to live in this stunning piece of history.
"I hope it is a family or someone who really appreciates how very unique this house is," he says.
