Waharau: Major general upgrade

A waterfront home on the Firth of Thames started life as army barracks in Papakura.

1710 East Coast Road, Waharau.

It's hard to imagine that the sprawling country home of Adam and Julie Finlayson started life as barracks on the Papakura Army Base.

Once two shabby buildings moved on to the site by the previous owner, it now stretches low along the water's edge, its elongated shape allowing full enjoyment of the views across the Firth of Thames to the rolling hills of the Coromandel Peninsula.

Although 2-year-old Alex and 3-year-old Izabel have been fenced off from the foreshore for their safety, French doors lead out from every room on to sheltered decks with wide steps leading down on to a lawn big enough for an army to play cricket on. This, in turn, gives on to the shingle beach. From all parts of the house the view of the water birds strutting and preening on the shingle is part of an ever-changing panorama, made dramatic by sunrises across the water in the morning, and sunsets across rural views at the front of the property in the evening.

As Andy Finlayson tells it, "I've worked on the family farm at the rear of this for some time now, and I used to look at this wonderful site and the barracks on it and wonder how it would be to live here."

He didn't have to wonder forever, because the previous owner, artist Mervyn Williams, accepted his offer and four months after becoming its new owner, the builders moved in to turn the barracks into a spacious home.

Five years later a two storey addition was built with three more bedrooms, two more bathrooms and more living space.

Modern details and fittings work sympathetically beside what was special in the original, making it hard to distinguish where the old building finishes and the new addition starts. The visual warmth provided by the richly polished jarrah flooring in the older parts of the ground floor is counterpointed by the state-of-the-art kitchen and the three up-to-the-minute bathrooms.

Five spacious bedrooms - the parents' one being upstairs with its own en suite and more glorious views - and huge living spaces that flow between each other all blend in a seamless mix of old and new.

Although Adam, Julie and the children are moving into Tauranga for a change of lifestyle, they are doing so knowing they are leaving behind a home for all seasons and all sorts of people. "It's so close to Auckland you could commute, and there's also lots of retirees down here and the local schools are great. Who knows who will buy it?"

Whoever that may be, they will never tire of the view.

Vital Statistics

BEDROOMS: 5

BATHROOMS: 3

GARAGE: 2

SIZE: Land 5185sq m, house 250sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Expressions of interest over $1.1 million, closing December 19.

INSPECT: By appointment.

CONTACT: Elaine Hayward, LJ Hooker, ph 0274 521 714. Thames office 07 868 8995, Kaiaua office 09 232 2806.

FEATURES: Two level renovated home incorporating old and new features, on the water's edge with panoramic views across the Firth of Thames to the Coromandel. Less than one hour's drive from South Auckland.