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Todd Cooper, Harcourts, 09 283 7901 or 021 941
TENDER CLOSES:
May 27.
Ross Tebbs admits he can get a little fanatical about things. So when he decided to install a water feature at his Red Beach property for his 50th birthday, he was thinking less birdbath and more Niagara.
He bought the property next door, pulled the house down, and replaced it with a rocky creek that tumbles through a garden and culminates in a waterfall that cascades into a pond complete with classical-style statue.
"I just wanted a waterfall," he explains. "You only live once, so why not do it?"
Everywhere you look in his 1.6ha property you'll see evidence of this tenet: in the resort-style outdoor living area with its barbecue cabana and heated pool; in the triple-head shower and enormous wardrobe in the master suite; in the separate four-car workshop, office and garage, where Ross tinkers with his hot rods.
Ross and his wife, Libby, bought the house 22 years ago, when their son was a preschooler. They had been living in the upper East Coast Bays and had a hankering for more space, and room to park Ross's racing powerboat.
The four-bedroom brick house nestled around a north-facing pool. Pitched ceilings contributed to a spacious resort feel, and the living rooms and master bedroom opened to the backyard. The property had extensive lawns, and was in a quiet spot hidden from the road and in walking distance of beaches. There were even sea views from the top of the property.
"It had a really lovely, warm feel to it, as a family home, and it had a beautiful country feel, especially for us coming from a quarter-acre section in the suburbs."
But Ross and Libby could see potential to develop it into something even better, and they've never stopped acting on that potential.
Image 1 of 9: The care lavished on this expansive property has given it a luxurious resort feel
As well as buying and bowling the neighbouring house to create the water feature, they bought a three-bedroom house that shares their driveway, as a rental property. (The three sites are on separate titles, but Ross and Libby are selling them as a package.)
They've created extensive native and subtropical gardens over the years, and planted an orchard on a sloping expanse of lawn, with lemons, plums, apples, apricots, peaches, and a large vegetable garden.
Ross reckons they've trucked in thousands of tonnes of stones for landscaping. As well as the water feature, he had elegant stone walls built at the property's gates, and had stone laid throughout the outdoor area. At one time, up to 10 people worked on the stone features for nine months solid.
He and Libby have also recently installed luxurious bathrooms, a new kitchen, and a gym in their home, plus a master wardrobe the size of a double bedroom.
With all that space, and the resort style atmosphere, their home has become a magnet for family and friends, and a popular wedding venue.
"It's been really lovely," says Ross. "We've had some great family gatherings and parties. At night time, when we turn on the outdoor lights, it's like Hollywood."
It's taken the couple two years to come around to the idea of moving, but with properties in Red Beach, Silverdale and Millwater in hot demand, they figure it's a good time to retreat to the country -- where they'll no doubt find a whole lot more outlets for Ross's big ideas.
"We've really enjoyed living here, and we love the grounds," he says.
