Herne Bay: Living history

A century-old villa has intriguing features that reveal the quirks of its past, writes Lucy Richmond.

290 Jervois Rd, Herne Bay.

There are lots of little stories to tell about this house.

For starters, Auckland's longest-serving mayor, Sir Dove-Myer Robinson, was brought up here. Apparently a picture of him on a motorbike taken outside the house exists somewhere, says owner Tracey Easton, who bought the property 12 years ago.

And as we wander through the home which Tracey has spent the last two years renovating and shares with her four daughters - 13-year-old twins Aleisha and Claudia, Emma, 11, and six-year-old Lili - snapshots of its past appear at every turn.

A grand, carved, kauri door frame positioned halfway along the hallway dates back to the original home.

"In the 1920s the house was converted into three flats and the door frame was stuck somewhere else," says Tracey. "It was put back in when the place was made into one house again 20 years ago. It's still got the old hinges on it."

Pointing to the double doors leading to the main lounge, she adds: "Oh, and these came from a bank somewhere; we're not sure which one." On closer inspection they bear the name Mr Buscomb etched into the frosted glass.

"And the lemon tree at the bottom of the garden is so old that the variety isn't commonly found anymore," she says.

The long list of original features includes the front door - complete with pink, green and orange glass panels - battened, papered ceilings with decorative plaster centrepieces, kauri floors, five kauri fireplaces, a clawfoot bath and the basin and taps in the master en suite

"The basin's got the odd mark on it and I thought maybe I should get them removed, but I think they're all part of its charm," says Tracey.

Now we turn to the contemporary touches, which start with the kitchen. It has a large, tiled, central island with the cooktop and oven built into it, and a pull-out pantry. The appliances and a mini office area are hidden behind tall timber cabinetry.

Next comes the high-tech, sound-proofed home theatre in the basement, which also accommodates a music room large enough for a piano, two bedrooms, a wine cellar and a huge bathroom.

The tenants in the self-contained flat next door, which comes with the house, can still make out the sound of the girls tinkling the ivories, though. When they hear them playing the Rugrats song they know it's time to get up, and when they hear The Simpsons it's time to go to work.

Opposite the lounge is a guest suite comprising a bedroom, bathroom and a cosy living area with a view across the sloping garden to Grey Lynn.

"You can see the flying fox outside from here," says Tracey. "The children can climb up to a treehouse, jump on the flying fox and zoom down the line to the guava tree at the other end."

A change in circumstances sees Tracey and her girls moving to pastures new, but they're not going far.

"We love it around here, so I've bought an old 1920s bungalow 10 doors down the road. We're sorry to be leaving the place, but it'll be a lovely family home for somebody else."

Vital Statistics

SIZE: Land area 1396sq m, house 424sq m (approx).

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected above $2.5 million. Auction August 25.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 12-12.45pm.

CONTACT: Cathy Roselli or Wayne Bulog, Unlimited Potential, Herne Bay, ph 361 6658 bus, Cathy 021 750 454 mob, Wayne 0274 723 557 mob.

FEATURES: Renovated and remodelled early-1900s villa with large, open living spaces, heaps of character as well as contemporary touches, a home theatre in the basement and a one-bedroom self-contained flat.