They also tackled the garden -- carving it out of clay, landscaping with native plants and putting in vegetable gardens that now flourish. Another big job was concreting the steep shingle driveway.
"We often ended up having to tow people up it when they came to the house," recalls Gillian. "We got a concrete company in who looked a bit askance when they saw it, but they got the job done and now it is concreted, you can whip up the drive easily."
Until the electricity was put in they coped for about two years with a windmill as their only power source.
"It was of dubious use -- it was easy to make power but hard to store it," says Gillian.
One of the things that had attracted them to the property was the amount of land. Gillian wanted space for her small stud flock of sheep, and they also have cattle and bees.
But it was the view that really sold them on the place. There is a spectacular outlook over Omaha to Tawharanui Peninsula, beyond that, Kawau Island, and in the distance, Rangitoto.
"On a clear day, you can see the Sky Tower in Auckland, and on New Year's Eve we can see the fireworks," says Gillian. "We never get sick of looking at the view. It's spectacular. Even on days when it is not so nice, we enjoy watching the changing weather coming."
The vista can be enjoyed from many large windows in the house that frame it perfectly. And it is not just the windows that are big -- at nearly 500sqm, the house is enormous.
The double height living room has plenty of space for John and Gillian's grand piano and includes a cosy mezzanine level, complete with a woodburning fire, which is ideal for reading or watching TV.
The Peebles are spoilt for choice when it comes to places to eat. As well as a formal dining room, there's another dining area alongside the kitchen, and the patio, which has a outdoor fireplace, is great for al fresco meals.
The house has a study and five bedrooms, including a master suite so spacious that as well as the bed, there's room for two chaise longues and four large antique dressers. It has a roomy en suite and two dressing rooms.
The garage, which Gillian describes as "one of the biggest man caves around", has room not only for cars but also a boat. "It could always be converted into a separate apartment with a mezzanine floor," she says.
It is the sheer size of the house and the land that has led to John and Gillian making the decision to sell. The couple, who commute to Auckland several days a week to run a business they own there, are heading towards retirement, and a smaller property is a wise idea. They will miss not only the house, but the location 10 minutes from beautiful Pakiri Beach and Matakana, with its cinema, cafes and vineyards.
The property has served them well as both a holiday home and a permanent abode, says Gillian, but now is the time for someone else to enjoy it.
