SCHOOL ZONES:
Takapuna Grammar, Bayswater Primary, Belmont Intermediate.
CONTACT:
Nicola Kelland, 021 474 645.
AUCTION:
November 12, 11am, on site.
Tory McKeogh doesn't mince words when she explains what drew her 27 years ago to this striking Bayswater home on one of the quiet suburb's most sought-after streets.
"It had a view, it was on the water, and it had a swimming pool."
A swimming pool shaped like a mapof Australia, in fact.
The house was also on the North Shore where her business was based so it made sense for her and her first husband to move here from Remuera where they had been living previously.
For the past 12 years Tory has lived with her husband Harry in this three-level Norwood Rd house, which has been a great family base for Harry's two sons Finn, 19, and Dom, 18, and for Tory's son James, 19.
All three boys are now flatting but they have fond memories of growing up in this character 1900s weatherboard house, which has sweeping views across Ngataringa Bay to Stanley Point and over to the city.
"Bloody good," is how Finn describes living in the home, which he says is "spacious, relaxing and warm".
As well as being close to Bayswater Marina, North Shore beaches and five minutes away from the Bayswater ferry, the house is zoned for Takapuna Grammar, where the boys went to school.
When Tory moved into the home in 1987 its footprint was similar to what it is now. Her renovations in 2000 included turning the dated, dark kitchen into a fourth bedroom and installing an Italian kitchen at the eastern end of the house, which was also extended to create an informal family living space.
The Creazione kitchen, which has ribbed aluminium cupboards and a matt stainless steel bench top, has stood the test of time and blends well with the home's original features, including polished hardwood floors, paneled glass windows and doors.
Four years ago, Tory and Harry converted the swimming pool to an Enviroswim purification system, which relies on positive and negative ions rather than chlorine to keep the water clean.
"We had done the same with the pool at our beach house in Mangawhai and it is way healthier," says Harry.
Image 1 of 7: Century-old beauty gets the thumbs up from teenage boys. Photos / Michelle Hyslop
Although the property faces south, its generous sloping 1092sq m section and the pool's distance from the main house means it gets all-day sun.
The cliff-top property has riparian rights and easy access to the bay below it via a pohutukawa-lined public walkway that runs between two neighbouring properties, which are just a few metres away.
Over the years Tory has planted several citrus trees and natives, including clusters of flax and nikau palms on the property, which also has two beautiful mature kauri.
Main living in the house is on the mid level which includes the kitchen, family room and a deck with steps down to the pool.
To the right of the front door, down the hallway are the main bathroom and three light, double bedrooms, including two street-facing ones with panelled bay windows.
Also off the hallway are the formal lounge, which is separated from the formal dining room by sliding glass panelled doors, and a sunny, semi-open plan library.
The downstairs level includes an office, laundry, shower, toilet, workshop and double internal access garage with storage space that opens off a rumpus room.
The McKeoghs are selling the property because they now live mostly at Mangawhai and are building a boat, which they plan to sail wherever it takes them.
