St Mary's: Spanning the decades

29 London Street, St Marys Bay. 

From a quiet bay to the harbour bridge, the Clarke family has seen many changes in its 52 years in London Street. 

The St Marys Bay house was built when sea lapped at the bottom of the section (far right), and was home to Bob Clarke and his young wife Lila. Bob lived there until his health forced a move two years ago. 

Daughter Lea says the view across the harbour from the house is what the family will miss most. The villa has now been converted into three one-bedroom flats (far left). 

When Bob Clarke and his young wife Lila bought this terrace villa 52 years ago, the sea still lapped at the bottom of the section. 

"I used to hitch a ride on one of the old vehicle ferries out into the harbour, then jump off and swim around the bays and home," recalls Bob, now 86. 

His daughter, Lea, was 4 when the family moved to the house. 

"My grandfather's launch used to be moored out the front of the property - boating, fishing and swimming were part of day-to-day life. I used to bring my friends home to go for a swim after school." 

Bob remembers how quiet it was. "You only heard the birds in the pohutukawas." 

So, yes, they were disappointed when the land below London Street was reclaimed to build the motorway to the harbour bridge, and their was a lot of community opposition to the Westhaven marina being built. But once they got used to the hum of traffic, they grew to like the more active view that spread out before their house. 

And what a view - below the trees cars snake toward the bridge, which seems close enough to touch. You feel like you could step off one of the three balconies into the marina. The city rises up on the right. At night it is a spectacle of lights. 

The villa was built in 1903 and is now in three one-bedroom flats - one on each of its three levels. Each level enjoys the view through large windows or sliding doors across its front, and the bottom flat has access to the garden, which slopes down the hill to a walkway beside the motorway. The middle flat has been renovated in the past 18 months so has the most modern kitchen and bathroom. 

This set-up provides a variety of options - you could buy the property as simply a rental investment, live in one and rent out the other two levels, or transform the whole building back into the grand Victorian home it once was. 

Bob's beloved Lila died suddenly in 1969, but he continued to live at the house until two years ago when his health necessitated a move to a rest home. He returned to help show us around, and reminisce about the parties the family had enjoyed at the house while Lea was growing up. 

"When we bought this place I had friends saying 'Why do you want to live in town, by the water?', because most families were out in the suburbs. But this was always a very fashionable part of town, and we liked it." 

"Mum and Dad were what we might call yuppies," smiles Lea. "Dad was a musician, and mum was an actress and dancer. They were regulars at all the dance halls, like the Peter Pan cabaret, and restaurants like El Matador on Symonds Street. 

"In the 60s my mother owned a high fashion shoe shop called C'est Si Bon near Three Lamps, and I remember all these women with beehive hairdos trying on pointy toed shoes. Dad worked in the footwear industry, too, and later couldn't stand retirement, so started taxi driving to keep meeting new people." 

Bob still has a twinkle in his eye, as he kisses the ladies' hands and offers us a drink. Finally parting with the family home is emotional for him and Lea. 

"I think we'll miss the view the most," says Lea. "You can't replicate this anywhere. But Dad can't live here anymore, and I'm moving into a different phase in my life where it's not the right place for me to live either. It's time to let go."

Vital Statistics: 

BEDROOMS: 3 

BATHROOMS: 3 

GARAGE: 0 

SIZE: Land 480sq m, house 223sq m.. 

PRICE INDICATION: CV (2005) $1.55 million. Auction May 18. 

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 12.30-1.30pm. 

CONTACT: Heather Hannah, Ray White, ph 021 762 260, 638 0709 bus, 815 1235 a/h. 

FEATURES: 1903 terrace villa on three levels, with a one-bedroom flat on each level. Each level has spectacular views of the harbour and city. Middle flat recently renovated and now has a modern kitchen and bathroom. All three flats return a combined rental income of $1200-$1400 per week.