St Marys Bay - Added Value

For Graeme Morrison and his partner Margaret Thompson it was all about location, location, location when they bought their worker's cottage in St Marys Bay.

5 Dublin Street, St Marys Bay.

Having relocated for work three years ago, they wanted to buy somewhere central that suited a busy working couple.

They had been looking for about four months when they came across the recently renovated ``Old Soldiers'', a twinset of worker's cottages built in 1854, a fact proudly proclaimed by a sign swinging from the front of the building.

Graeme says the cottages were built for workers on what used to be a farm on College Hill and were later bought by the Catholic Church to house its sisters.

They'd then been allowed to fall into disrepair before they were bought in 2002 and renovated by a developer.


``The whole place has been re-wired, re-plumbed, it's got a new tin roof and the walls have been re-lined and insulated,'' says Graeme.

``We really liked the renovation because they haven't scrimped on anything but they've respected the character of the home.''

The emphasis on quality is apparent in the kitchen with its dark-stained cabinetry, tiled splashback, Smeg appliances and L-shaped stainless steel bench. And the bathroom, which is fully tiled in off-white and has a bath.

The downstairs of the two-storey kauri home has an open plan living area with the bathroom tucked in behind, and a laundry under the staircase. The wide slabs of kauri used for floorboards in the living area hint at the age of the home.

Heading outside through the French doors takes you on to a north-facing deck then down on to the small back lawn that is dominated by a prolifically fruiting avocado tree.

No. 5 and No. 3 share a fenced central walkway that takes you under the houses and through to the fenced back yards of either home. Graeme says there is a small body corporate that covers this shared passageway.

The house-proud neighbours have also shared in rebuilding the picket fence at the front and planting the front yard.

``Our neighbours are great and we're both really conscious of working in together and maintaining the character of the building.''

Upstairs there are two bedrooms, with the master bedroom having built-in cupboards and a north-facing balcony with up close city views.

``When they have the Sky Tower lit up at Christmas or fireworks off it at New Year, you've got front row seats here.''

Graeme says it would be possible to extend the home at the rear, depending on council approval. He and Margaret have been renting the house out for about a year and are looking to buy a larger place, hopefully somewhere in the same area.

``For a single woman or professional couple with no kids it's a great inner city pad without the concrete jungle of living in an apartment,'' says Graeme.

``It's a fantastic location because you don't have to have a car if you live here. You can walk up to the cafes and restaurants in Ponsonby and Herne Bay or walk into the city.''

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 2

BATHROOMS: 1

GARAGES: 0

SIZE: Land 311sq m, house 82sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV (2005) $585,000. Auction October 26.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 2-2.45pm.

ON THE WEB: www.uprealty.co.nz # 138161.

CONTACT: David Simons, Unlimited Potential, ph 361 6485 bus,
021 2777 579 mob.

FEATURES: One of the area's oldest homes, circa 1854. One of two neighbours named the Old Soldiers this property has been recently renovated and has a northerly aspect with a sunny rear garden and outdoor entertaining area.