SCHOOL ZONES:
Castlecliff School, Whanganui High School.
CONTACT:
Rob Bennett, Harcourts, 021 071 0016.
AUCTION:
May 20.
Shipping magnate Alexander Hatrick knew what he was doing when he built himself a house in Whanganui in the early 1900s.
He chose a site with waterfront access but enough space to build his house back from the salt spray, he selected an architect who drew up an iconic New Zealand beachside residence of the time, and he spared no expense when it came to choosing the materials.
The current owners have reaped the benefit of those decisions since they bought the house 28 years ago, and it was only lack of space for a growing classic car collection that led them to look for a property with more garaging.
Now, says Mel L'Huillier, it's time to part with 'Gardeston', the property his family has nurtured for many years.
The original owner was well known for his involvement in shipping in the late 1800s.
He bought a paddle steamer, Wairere, to carry mail between Whanganui and Pipiriki, later carrying tourists on the river and building tourist accommodation in the area.
He expanded the river service and by 1911 had 12 large and seven smaller vessels operating.
He was described as energetic, farsighted and imaginative - qualities that it appears he brought to the design and building of his holiday house in 1918.
The house was designed to resemble the bridge of a ship, and although Mel doesn't know the architect's name he does have the original architectural drawings which are framed and hanging in the hallway.
"And it is like the bridge of a ship," he says. "There are 180-degree views from the house, and when you step a metre outside the front door they're 190 degrees. And it was obviously built to capture the best views of the sunsets."
Although it was probably built as a holiday residence, Hatrick chose quality materials for the house inside and out. It's built of weatherboard with timber joinery, timber floors and timber sarked ceilings, and much of the finishing is in heart timbers such as rimu.
89 Karaka Street, Castlecliff. Photo / Supplied
The beautiful pannelled hallway, however, is oak veneer.
The design boasts more windows than was usual in houses of the time so the interior is light, taking advantage of its north-westerly aspect.
There's also an unusual amount of living space with a country kitchen with timber cabinetry, a separate dining room, lounge, family room, conservatory, a library and the enfolding verandah, which adds character, casual sitting space and warmth.
"There's a cathedral ceiling in the lounge that provides wonderful acoustics and my mother, a musician, loved that," Mel says. "It has been a great entertaining house."
89 Karaka Street, Castlecliff. Photo / Supplied
The palette of warm colours and furnishings was chosen to echo the period of the house, which he says has lent itself to the American Cape Cod look.
Over time it has been maintained and updated with a new Colorsteel roof, all new wiring, automatic opening garage doors, mains gas supply and a security system.
However, over its near 100-year lifespan it has never been structurally altered or extended, which, for Mel, has been a huge bonus. Even the garden retains many of its original features, including an outdoor living area paved in brick.
Unusually, even the double garage was built at the same time as the house and although it amply housed two of Mel's classic cars, more space was needed.
That drove the move to a house on the river that has a barn.
