Greenhithe

A village way of life a stone's throw from Albany, Greenhithe offers a desirable change of pace, as ROBYN WELSH reports.

From character-filled established homes and simple baches to new homes and terrace houses - a wide range of properties are a unique feature of Greenhithe.

Well-known for its rural village atmosphere and overlooking the upper reaches of the Waitemata Harbour and Lucas Creek, Greenhithe has long been one of the North Shore's best-kept secrets, with many of its finest homes tucked away down leafy driveways on larger-than-average sections.

Residential development has opened up the area to a wider range of buyers from Auckland, who enjoy the country lifestyle without being too far from the retail centres of Albany to the north and Hobsonville to the south.

Auckland buyers talk of "trading a lifestyle" for a semi-rural change of pace rather than trading up or down in terms of price. The suburb has several pre-schools, a primary school and bus services to nearby secondary schools.

At the heart of the suburb is Greenhithe village, with all the enduring soul and proud community spirit of a small country town. Resident ducks and ducklings cross the winding streets. Among the trees, the visible homes include many of that dying breed, the quintessential Kiwi bach.

Town planning zonings prevent the subdivision of sections less than 1200sq m in the village area, which has protected its charm and helped the properties to hold their value.

Established homes range in price from the high $400,000s to $800,000, with a handful over $1 million. The average cost of a 1200sq m section is about $225,000.

But it's the residential development of the vast tracts of rural land in Wainoni Park that has made entry into Greenhithe affordable for young professional buyers with a $300,000 budget. This will buy them a new home or they can pay less for a new section, which sells for an average price of $180,000.

Some of Greenhithe's most prestigious properties belong to long-standing residents who released their land for such development, while retaining a substantial holding for homes with pools and tennis courts.

Yet prior to Greenhithe's new housing developments, this area had a comparatively low turnover. Families moved into the suburb and retained their links with an area that contributed greatly to Auckland's economy in the colonial days.

In the late 19th century, Greenhithe was the site for the lucrative gum-digging trade, when kauri gum was exported to Europe for use in the manufacture of varnishes. Much of Greenhithe's native forest was felled and rafted down to Auckland's sawmills, where it was used in some of the city's earliest government buildings.

In those days, long before such vital links as the main Upper Harbour Drive into Greenhithe, water transport was the norm. These days the talk is of the planned motorway, known as the Upper Harbour Corridor, which is due for completion in May 2005.

Once the necessary resource consent has been granted, Transit New Zealand says it will consult with the local community on a proper name for the major road link that promises to further lift Greenhithe's profile.