Takanini: Touch of tradition

VICKI HOLDER checks out a delightful English-style homestead that has remained true to its late 19th century roots.

There's one home in Mahia Park, Takanini, that everyone knows. Unlike the neighbouring newcomers, this handsome traditional residence has been here forever - almost.

A legacy of a bygone era, it's the oldest, biggest, grandest and arguably the prettiest home in the area. Built in the late 1800s, it was once the homestead for a farm that covered hundreds of acres - virtually the whole peninsula.

One of this century's early owners, Jim Webb, was a city publisher who turned the farm into a well-known thoroughbred stud. In 1943 he had success with a winning stallion called Mahia Park, after which the whole area was named. Webb's family had the property for 50 years, which is probably why the house is still in such sturdy original order with most of its beautiful period details intact.

However, over time the farm has gradually been whittled away and sub-divided to make way for development. Present owners Ross and Laura Ritchie were the first to buy the property on the open market as it has always been passed on privately. As the most recent to slice off acreage, their lot was originally four acres, says Laura. The garden ran all the way down to a tennis court and the old stables still existed on the property. Now that it's more manageable as a low-maintenance city property, it retains its quiet country atmosphere, sheltering among expansive lawns and a woodland of many native trees, including rimu, punga, totara and cabbage trees. It's basically an English country garden, but Laura has put down weed mat and barked all the beds to make it as easy-care as possible.

During their three-year tenure, the Ritchies have made sympathetic improvements that lend comfort as well as a gracious air to the interiors. All the bathrooms have been updated with modern fittings and simple white tiled floors and dados. Recently, they've re-carpeted and painted the walls with pretty hues. Structurally, however, the home has not been tampered with. Even many of the early ornate Miller lamp shades remain to give a delightful old-fashioned country flavour.

It's interesting to note that the splendid room the Ritchies now call their family sitting room once served as the formal entry foyer.

From the road, a massive metre-wide timber door welcomes visitors from beneath a porch draped in purple wisteria. The family room in turn opens to a large, sun-drenched dining room that dwarfs the average family size dining table.

Through a pair of big timber doors inset with bevelled glass, a grand formal room encapsulates elegant entertaining with a honey-toned marble fireplace and an enormous antique mirror above. Overlooking a large swimming pool in the garden, the room spills out through two sets of french doors to a veranda that runs all the way along the house. While there is no internal-access garaging, this provides undercover access from the garaging.

Between the two formal rooms, a country-style kitchen peeps over a cosy breakfast area in a bay of sash windows.

The four bedrooms all have generous dimensions and good storage. The master bedroom is particularly large and the Ritchies have added a generous en suite with a bath at one end and a shower at the other. Double wardrobes are not just cupboards but walk-in affairs with plenty of room for the biggest collector of clothing and accessories. Sitting back to back, there are two more bathrooms in the main part of the house. There's a fourth in a self-contained apartment that can be closed off at the end of the hall. With its own entry, this extra living space has a full kitchen in a large open-plan area and a separate bedroom ideal for guests or even the nanny.

A landmark home that remains true to its era, this charming retreat indulges a family in a slice of good, old-fashioned country living within 20 minutes of the city.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 18 Glenross Rd, Mahia Park, Takanini.

FEATURES: Original Mahia Park homestead built in late 1800s with period features; large gardens; grand formal dining and entertaining areas opening to verandas; real log fire in lounge; large family area and country kitchen; four bathrooms; pool; three-car garaging plus single garaging for self-contained apartment with second kitchen.

SIZE: Land area 3870sq m.

AUCTION: November 20.

AGENT: Jean-Paul Winckel, Veni Brown, Harcourts, Pukekohe. Ph 238 4244 bus; Jean-Paul 0274 977 272 mob; Veni 0274 495 326 mob.