Ponsonby: Restorative justice

Two defenders of historic buildings have their own heritage home on the market, writes Estelle Sarney.

2 Galatea Terrace, Ponsonby.

It is somehow fitting that a champion for the preservation of Auckland's historic homes has her own house on the market during Heritage Week.

Ingrid Galloway, her husband Mark and their team of campaigners from Herne Bay have had their spats with the Auckland City Council in recent years, but the fact that the council now runs a Heritage Week is a sign of the increased importance it places on what's left of its historic buildings. Its raised awareness, and some extra protection measures it put in place this year, are due in part to Ingrid and her team. They've made headlines in the past 12 months over the proposed removal of two Victorian villas in Galatea Terrace, which spurred them to campaign not only for protection of those houses, but of Auckland's heritage buildings in general.

"We just wanted to help preserve part of Auckland's cultural heritage for future generations," says Ingrid. "They don't build houses like this anymore. Once they're gone, they're gone. We have tour buses that drive around here occasionally to show tourists what Auckland's early houses looked like - they're special."

Ingrid and Mark fell in love with their own historic house 20 years ago.

"I looked up and saw the pressed steel ceilings, and they won me over," recalls Ingrid.

Then there was the kauri fireplace in the lounge with its original tiles, the stained glass windows, the 3.6m stud and enormous rooms. There was the wide hallway with a carved plaster archway complete with pillars - a grand entrance for a home of grand proportions. At the back it drops away so dramatically that, from the top deck, you are gazing past treetops to a view of the harbour. Those trees include an impressive Phoenix palm, numerous pohutukawa, and a striking kauri of a height rarely seen in the central suburbs.

Owners of the now defunct Mercury Theatre must have liked this house's sense of drama. They owned it before the Galloways, and some old theatrical hands still know it as the Mercury party house.

"Some actors lived here, and after a show they would all come back and party on, and on and on," laughs Ingrid. "Their Rocky Horror parties were legendary."

"The storeroom downstairs was packed to the ceiling with props," continues Mark. "There was a royal bedchamber, even a guillotine. It took them weeks to clear everything out."

Once they had the house to themselves, the Galloways began slowly renovating. The dining room became the master bedroom, the former maid's quarters next door became the master en suite, the kitchen was moved sideways to allow the family room the best of the sun and the view (although you still have a view out the kitchen window), and a big room downstairs became the couple's home office for their video and DVD distribution business. This area has its own entry and bathroom, and their 18-year-old son had his bedroom down here before heading off to Otago University. There is another big room which the couple has wired for a home theatre, should a future owner want one.

"We also thought about putting a pool down the eastern side of the back yard, which is the last spot to keep the sun," says Ingrid, "but we've left that for a future owner."

All the Galloways' changes were made within the outer framework of the original house, and, of course, in keeping with its vintage. The front half of the house is pretty much how it would have looked when it was built, sometime between 1912 and 1914.

Even the main bathroom, which is divided into a separate toilet, a shower room and a bath room, is true to the original design - very practical for a bustling family.

The fireplace in the formal lounge, which Ingrid and Mark scraped back to the wood, still works, "too well, for Auckland," says Ingrid. "It heats up the front of the house so well we have to let it die down."

There is also a log burner in the family room, although this area is so drenched in sun that it doesn't get used often.

All of the couple's three children were born in this house, so Ingrid and Mark feel sentimental about leaving it.

"But our business is changing direction, and our son isn't living at home any more," says Ingrid. "We just no longer need a house this big."

They would be quite happy to stay in the area, but are also open to inspiration from elsewhere. Whatever house they buy, it's bound to have some form of character.

"Just before we put an offer in on this place 20 years ago, a developer had put his offer in, and he was going to bowl this house and put two units on the land," says Ingrid. "So our feeling of preserving a piece of heritage was here from the start."

Vital Statistics

SIZE: Land 809 sq m approx, house in excess of 350sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected above the high $1 millions. Set sale date September 28.

INSPECT: Phone for viewing times.

CONTACT: Jan George, Ray White, ph 0274 784 119, 817 8998.

FEATURES: 1912-1914 two-storey villa beautifully preserved and renovated for modern living in keeping with its historic style. Two fireplaces. Formal lounge, family room, views of harbour. Downstairs has its own access and includes a large office, storeroom, bathroom, and two bedrooms (one could be a home theatre). Back section has room for a pool.