St Marys Bay - Lasting grandeur

This Victorian mansion is ageing with dignity in a prime location, and offers potential to increase the value of its site.

11 London Street, St Marys Bay.

Denise Panjwani's husband Mike bought this house on a whim four months ago.

``It reminded him of a place we own in France,'' says Denise, who hails from that country and still carries a rich accent.

``But he has hardly been here between business trips, and me and our daughter travel a lot, too. When I am here on my own it is too big and lonely - it needs a big family.''

And so Denise is somewhat reluctantly selling this magnificent 1890s villa within months of acquiring it.

But not before she completes a cosmetic renovation of the main living areas, the bedrooms and repaints the exterior.

``It was in a terrible state when we bought it,'' she comments. ``But I loved all its character.''

The grandeur of the three-level home strikes you as you enter the front door. A large foyer rises to a carved plaster ceiling 3.6m above.

To your right is the formal lounge, its tall windows revealing a sweeping view of the Harbour Bridge, Westhaven, North Head, Rangitoto and back to the city.

A door at the side allows access to a wide verandah that runs along the front of the house and back around to the front door.

Turn left from the foyer through a carved archway and you find a grand formal dining room, painted a rich red. Across the hallway is the kitchen, casual dining and a study area.

Beside the dining room a curving staircase rises past a magnificent stained glass window of purple and green. A landing at the top leads to bedrooms in three directions.

The master, currently set up as another lounge, has a large bay window that mirrors the one downstairs. Through here, and from the return verandah outside, the view is even more expansive.

A spiral wooden staircase near the kitchen leads down to the bottom level, where there is a tiled room containing a spa pool, table and chairs, and the original coal range.

Bifold doors lead out to a terrace, and allow the breeze in on summer evenings.

``We have a spa every day - it's very relaxing,'' says Denise.
The generous grassed section, and some steps beside it, lead past magnolias and camellias to a grove of pohutukawa and cabbage trees that provide a barrier between the property and the motorway.

It would be possible to build another two homes on the section, and the previous owners had plans and a model made with a view to doing just that. Denise still has them if the new owner would like them.

Yet such a grand house would suit a sumptuous garden, and Denise would be just as happy to see the land landscaped in keeping with its Victorian mansion. There is plenty of room for a pool.

``I can see a big family in here, maybe with teenagers. Although it's a big house, it has a very warm, comfortable feel to it. You can sense that the people who have lived here before have been happy.''

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 4

BATHROOMS: 3

GARAGES: 2

SIZE: Land 1961sq m, house 383sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected below the 2005 CV of $6.2 million. Auction October 1.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 1-2pm, Wed 6-7pm.

ON THE WEB: www.open2view.co.nz #135996

CONTACT: Heather Hannah, Ray White, ph 021 762 260, 815 1235 a/h.

FEATURES: 1890s three-storey villa on the cliff-top, with wide harbour and city views. Grand spaces and many character features. Spa room on lower level. Land is in two titles and two more dwellings could be built, or the section transformed into a lavish garden.