Russell: Piece of history

If there's one house in New Zealand that could tell a few stories, it's this historical waterfront gem in the fabulous Bay of Islands holiday destination of Russell. By VICKI HOLDER.

Looking much as it did when it was built in 1875, an original settler's cottage in Russell's historic precinct has been in the same family for three generations.

Because it has been seldom used in recent years, the locals have dubbed it the little ghost house. Deserted it might be, but it brings to life a treasure trove of memories. For it's being offered with much of its early colonial furniture as well as an intriguing collection of tools and bric-a-brac.

In the main retail street of Russell, the old home, known as Williams Cottage, sits one road back from the waterfront. It has an Historic 11 category registered with the Historic Places Trust, designed to keep any changes in keeping with the original character of the home.

The pioneer William Williams and his young bride Eleanor moved into the four-room home in 1875. It had been built in Auckland a year earlier and with seven other houses was dismantled and shipped to Russell to be reassembled for new immigrants to rent. However, the houses were not required for that purpose. Three were moved further inland and five remained in a row, either purchased for 30 pounds or leased from the Crown, as the Williams did.

With vertical timber on the exterior and a timber roof, the house measured just 24ft by 21ft, had no ceilings and a fireplace of a sheet of iron. The smoke-blackened timber is still evident in the attic, since closed in with timber ceilings.

In this tiny cottage, William and Eleanor lived. And most of their 13 children were born until Eleanor died in childbirth in 1897, aged just 38 years. Williams continued to raise his remaining 10 children in the house until his death in 1912.

A daughter, Helena Sommerville, made an arrangement with the Crown for the family to remain in the cottage. She eventually acquired the freehold of the land on the corner of York and Wellington Sts where the five cottages had been. By then only the Williams' house remained.

In the early 1900s the front veranda was removed when York St was widened and now the cottage sits just metres from the footpath. It was at this stage that a lounge, kitchen and bathroom were added to enlarge the original cottage. The vertical timber exterior was also replaced with conventional weatherboards, and quarter-pane sash cord timber windows were installed. These external additions blend well with the original.

In the 1950s, a large bedroom with an en suite went into the rear and the house has not been altered since. Following Helena Sommerville's death in 1959, the property was no longer lived in. It passed into the hands of the Sommervilles' daughter, a fourth generation New Zealander, and remained in the family as a holiday home. Distinctive little yellow shutters that pull across the windows were added as a security measure.

A local artist so admired the cottage that she painted it, and it appears on popular gift cards available in the Russell tourist shops. She called it the Absentee Owners' Cottage.

Inside, the house preserves its 1950s flavour. A short entry passage steers past two front bedrooms carpeted in 50s swirls. Further along, a third bedroom with a single bed features a tiny wooden staircase that goes up to the attic, where an assortment of old chairs, brass bed-ends and all manner of stuff provides tantalising fodder for the collector.

In the middle of the house there's a dining room and the lounge with the old bricked fireplace now framed in an elegant white timber surround. An eight-seater oak dining table graces the dining room and the lounge furniture consists of a chaise longue and a Victorian grandmother chair. To one side, a 50s-style kitchen comes equipped with the original retro-style rounded fridge and a collection of Delph ware.

The 1950s-style bathroom with a shower, basin and toilet plus a laundry is entered from the lounge. And in an annexe on the other side, the large master bedroom - with an en suite that was modern in the 50s - opens through cute french doors to the big, level back garden, which is fully fenced.

This little home on its big section just 200m from the waterfront is a history lover's gem. It has immense appeal and offers a unique restoration project in one of New Zealand's favourite coastal holiday destinations.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 36 York St, Russell.

FEATURES: Timber cottage built in 1875 with subsequent additions in early 1900s and 1950; four bedrooms - master bedroom with en suite; two bathrooms; separate lounge; dining room; 1950s kitchen; attic; garage and lean-to; chattels include colonial furniture and tools; large, level, fenced property in historic retail precinct 200m from waterfront.

SIZE: Land area 1,019sq m.

AUCTION: 2pm, July 26, on site.

AGENTS: Maureen Wharfe and Fiona Douglas, Harveys Celestine Realty, Russell. Ph 09 403 7769 bus; Maureen 0274 820 301 mob; Fiona 0274 903 636 mob.