Howick: Twisting by the pool

A 60s ranch-style home on a huge section enjoys magnificent views of the gulf, writes Adam Gifford.

116 Bleakhouse Rd, Mellons Bay, Howick.

Forty five years ago the Dixon house at Mellons Bay near Howick was a brightly scrubbed architectural jewel, standing almost alone on a gravel road as the surrounding farmland was carved into residential sections.

"There were still cows in the paddock over the bottom fence," says executor Neville Dixon.

Neville's parents bought the 1651sq m section in Bleakhouse Road in the mid-1950s, and built the house in 1960 for 12,500.

An architect was used to design the home because of the steepness of the section. The result was an airy, split-level California ranch-style home with spectacular views north across Musick Point to Rangitoto and southeast over the other gulf islands.

"We used to be able to see Auckland Hospital but trees are in the way now," says Neville.

Four Dixon children were raised in the house, and Neville's mother Ella lived in it until three years ago.

There were few changes made to the original building. When the sewerage system came down the street in the mid-1970s, the septic tank came out and the hole was enlarged to build a swimming pool.

The coping is shifting away and may need to be relaid, but the pool itself is still in good order with new pumps, filters and regular servicing.

The children spent a lot of their time downstairs in a large rumpus room, which at one stage housed a pool table.

Neville had his bedroom down here as well for a while, in what is now a utility room.

"I moved downstairs when I got old enough to sneak in the back way," he says.

Upstairs are three double bedrooms, all with built-in cupboards. The kitchen, dining area and huge living room take up the other half of the top floor.

The side of the house facing the street includes ample parking in a garage, carport and concrete pad. A feature wall of Huntly brick screens out noise from the street.

All the action is towards the view though, with wide balconies along the entire eastern side.

The house is in the zone for Macleans College,the grounds of which form part of the view. The garden extends well past the pool, running down the hill. There are some old citrus trees, and the remains of a line of pear trees the Dixons transplanted from their previous home in Otahuhu.

"It's that old woody kind; okay for bottling," says Neville.

"Mum was a farmer's daughter from Duntroon in North Otago. She was always pottering around down in the garden. When we came here, she put potatoes in right through the section."

While many of the large sections in the area have been chopped up and built on, including one next door which sold for more than $500,000, access problems mean it would not be an easy task to develop the back of 116, although it is subdividable. Its Residential 7 zoning means each dwelling needs at least a 700sq m section.

Real estate agent Mike Vermeulen says it is unusual to find a house in the area with that much intact land.

The house shows the wear and tear of 45 years of family living, but is structurally sound and has the potential for a 60s retro restoration or a complete rebuild.

Vital Statistics

SIZE: Land 1631 sq m, house 260 sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Expected to fetch above the 2002 rating valuation of $540,000. Auction July 31.

INSPECT: Saturday 1-1.45 pm.

CONTACT: Mike Vermeulen or Jill Lee, Harcourts. Ph 538 0138 bus, 0274 952 523 (Mike), 0275 362 388 (Jill).

FEATURES: California ranch-style home with pool and spectacular views. Rumpus room and utility room/extra bedroom downstairs with shower and toilet. In zone for Macleans College.