It's a risk buying a house when you haven't actually been able to look inside. But it's one that paid off for Elaine and Jim Houlker when they bought a home in the newly developed suburb of Sunnyhills 47 years ago.
The couple, who were moving to Auckland from Hawkes Bay with their family, were out househunting when they saw the property, but couldn't look inside because the agent showing them around didn't have the key.
Still, they were impressed with the English country home-style exterior and the property's waterfront location, and they were able to see the plans, so could get an idea of what it was like inside.
"We needed a house that was big enough for four children, a dog and a sideboard that was a family heirloom," says Elaine.
"The sideboard had belonged to my husband's great-grandfather, and we had to have room for it. Fortunately, this house had the space."
It also had stunning unspoilt views across the Tamaki estuary, thanks to being built on a waterside section. "You never get sick of the view," says Elaine. "There's always something to look at, even on days when the weather isn't so good."
The family bought the house from the original owner, who had built it five years earlier, and it has been their haven for almost half a century. Jim died 16 years ago, but Elaine was determined to stay on by herself.
Now in her 90s, she has only recently moved to a retirement village.
It was the perfect property for Elaine and Jim, and their children Jillian, Peter, Bill and Michael, with plenty of space for everyone to spread out.
The spacious lounge and dining area was ideal for entertaining and whenever businessman Jim invited clients over for dinner they were extremely impressed with the outlook over the water, which can also be enjoyed from a covered patio, a sunroom that adjoins the lounge, a breakfast area in the kitchen, and the master bedroom.
The main bedroom is on the ground floor and in a wing that can be shut off from the rest of the house. It has a large dressing room as well as lots of wardrobes, and a roomy en suite, which was updated recently.
Image 1 of 8: Beautiful landscaped gardens rolling down to the estuary attest to the love poured into this spacious but elegant family home
"It looks very different to the pink bath and bidet that used to be in here," says Elaine.
A bedroom on the lower ground floor was used by youngest son Michael until he left home, and then it became Jim's office.
There are three further bedrooms on the upper level, along with two bathrooms and a kitchenette that was put in by the previous owner for his housekeeper, who lived in this part of the house.
There is an abundance of storage space, including an easily accessed loft that could always be converted into another bedroom or living space.
Outside, Elaine was a little disappointed to see there wasn't much of a garden so set about rectifying that. Over nearly five decades, she has turned the grounds into stunning landscaped gardens featuring a huge range of plants including roses, camellias, lavender, frangipanis, and a striking magnolia. Although she's had some help in recent years with lawn mowing and big jobs such as cutting off branches, she has done most of the gardening herself. "I think that is what has kept me fit," she says.
There's a swimming pool and for a while the family considered putting in a tennis court -- there's plenty of room for one. The boys enjoyed being able to launch their sailing boats from the bottom of the garden -- Elaine could be in the garden or sunroom and able to see them out on the water.
Elaine's hopeful her home will be bought by a family that will treasure living in the gracious and elegant home as much as hers has.
