When Stan and Willy Bonsel arrived in New Zealand from the Netherlands, they landed at Whenuapai airport, not far from Herald Island where they would eventually live for 34 years.
But in 1958 their travels took them to Stratford, where Stan worked as a jeweller, a job Willy had seen advertised in Holland. They then moved to Henderson, where Stan set up his own shop. Around 1973 Stan launched his beloved yacht Nephrite, a Cavalier 32, and moored it at Half Moon Bay.
His daughter Clem Gardner remembers weekends spent driving from Henderson to Half Moon Bay for family sailing trips around the Hauraki Gulf.
So when a mate of Stan's told him a waterfront section was coming up on Herald Island he jumped at the chance to have a property where he could moor his boat.
Clem says the family home was built in 1982 and architecturally designed by Rex Little.
"Dad wanted a timeless house; a house that wouldn't date," says Clem of the modernist-style masonry and cedar home that steps down the slope towards the water. With the roofline shaped like a sailboat, the home is also solidly built with, Clem says, 15m-long concrete piles and concrete floors.
And, of course, Stan had a jetty built -- 24m-long and with three moorings, one of which is occupied by Nephrite.
"Dad did a lot of offshore races in her," says Clem, "and he loved the fact that he could bring her in here and stock her up with provisions and off you go."
Built to capture the views of the upper Waitemata Harbour, the home is spread over three main levels with outdoor areas such as decks, patios and gardens fanning off the bedrooms and living areas.
View shafts down corridors or out large porthole windows frame the water views when you aren't enjoying them from the living spaces or decks.
"Dad would sit in the lounge upstairs and watch the Upper Harbour Bridge being built and we would get updates on that," says Clem. "And then we got updates when the wharf for the Hobsonville Point ferry was being built."
Image 1 of 7: Island home was built for a family who loved the water. Photos / Ted Baghurst
On the upstairs level the open plan kitchen/dining and living space flows out to a covered waterfront deck, while on the other side a balcony runs around the house connecting with the bedrooms and overlooking a walled garden. Ceilings sarked with Douglas fir, and tawa kitchen cabinetry give the spaces warmth. On this level there are three bedrooms with the master enjoying harbour views and opening out to the waterfront deck.
"There's always so much to see out there," says Clem, "Especially at the weekend it comes alive with families kayaking and people on jet skis."
Rex Little used clever tricks such as clerestory windows to bring light into the house, and the double height entrance foyer has a wall of glazing that also adds a sense of drama upon arrival. Tucked away on this level is a safe that dates from 1873 that will be staying with the house.
At ground level, the second lounge with kitchenette opens to a large, sheltered deck with water views, while the bedroom on the street side of the house opens to the lush garden. Even the carpeted double garage has a porthole in the wall. A sauna is tucked into a corner of the house, beside the laundry, which also looks out to the harbour.
On the level below Stan used to have a workshop set up in the room that is now an office with a harbour outlook. Another little patio sits outside and from here you can make your way down to the jetty.
"This was my favourite place to sit just here on the jetty steps," says Clem. "And you could catch snapper off here at high tide."
After Stan died last year, Willy is selling up and might move into a retirement village. Clem says, "There's a lot of things about this place we will miss but it's time for a new family."
