Remuera: Here to stay

A couple bucked the trend of removing old houses and instead spent years restoring one of the original Remuera homesteads.

115 Victoria Avenue, Remuera.

Mention the Auckland City Council's latest initiatives to preserve character homes and Ian and Frances McIndoe are likely to breathe a big sigh of relief.

That's because the Remuera couple have worried in the past that if they sold their lovingly restored family home, developers might remove it from its Victoria Avenue site.

The McIndoes have lived in the two-storey home for 24 years and have raised their two sons, Nicholas, 24, and David, 26, there.

The house was built in 1886. Old photos show it was one of a handful of original Victoria Avenue homes which once nestled on farmlets that ran down to what is now the Waiata Reserve.

The light-filled, four-bedroom house sits in the middle of a generous, north-facing 1163sq m site. It gazes across Orakei to views of Rangitoto Island.

"There were times over the past 10 years when every month it seemed as though bits of old houses around us were being carted off their sites. That was the last thing that we wanted to happen," says Ian.

With the help of architect Malcolm Brown, the McIndoes have renovated the house slowly over the years in three different stages, blending some Georgian design elements with its Victorian bones.

"We always wanted to maintain the essence of the house, and Malcolm is particularly good at renovations that look as though they have been there forever," says Frances.

"We never compromised. If we could not afford to do something, or we were unsure about how a plan would work, we would put it aside for a few years until we were completely happy, because the house deserved the best."

The pokey old farmhouse kitchen and laundry were replaced with a spacious, open plan kitchen, informal dining room and conservatory which opens on to a courtyard and barbecue area.

A generous loft above the three car garage doubles as a fifth bedroom, office or separate space for noisy teenagers.

Original kauri floors, ceilings and a sweeping kauri staircase with elegant turned banisters are among the original features that have been retained. Much of the joinery is new but looks original.

"You could have built a very nice house for what we spent renovating this one. But it was worthwhile," says Ian.

Unlike many houses of the era, light flows from one end of the house to the other. The bedrooms, kitchen area, downstairs lounge and study are all generous, airy spaces.

Indoor outdoor flow is maximised by the fact that all of the downstairs rooms open to the outside, and all but one upstairs room has French doors.

"We have had up to 100 people here at a time and the house just copes," says Frances.

Now that their children have grown up, the McIndoes have decided it is time to move somewhere slightly smaller, with sea views.

Vital Statistics

SIZE: Land 1163sq m, house 550sq m approx.

PRICE INDICATION: $3.5 million to $4 million.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 1-1.45pm.

CONTACT: Paul Barnao, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 021 920 745 mob, 524 0149 bus.

FEATURES: Painstakingly restored family home with views to Rangitoto Island. Underfloor heating, conservatory, loft, swimming pool, spa.