Oratia

By CHARLOTTE COSSAR.

Sandwiched between Waiatarua and Glen Eden lies the veritable gem of a suburb Oratia. The area is what you would expect and much more. Steeped in the wonderful history of contemporary Waitakere City, Oratia is the home of the practical artisan family as well as numerous hobby farmers, and those desiring a larger plot of land in beautiful native bush settings close to the city.

Renowned for its history as one of Auckland's predominant orchard areas, many of the former large estates have been carved into smaller, yet definitely substantial, plots, just waiting for the relocation of historic villas and bungalows or the construction of a modern brick/plaster and tile mansion.

Oratia literally means the place where the sun shines brightly and is infused in Maori myth and legend. European settlement and activity stretches back to the 1840s when forestry established a foothold on the back of the kauri milling that had developed on the shores of Manukau Harbour.

Orchards became prominent in Oratia valley early on as well, despite the lack of supporting industrial infrastructure. Early orchards were rudimentary yet effective in their efforts to produce fruit. Orcharding remained the spine of the local economy well into the 20th century. However, in the last 30 years with the pressure of increasing land prices, residential subdivision developments and decreasing soil quality, there has been a falling-off in the number and importance of orchards.

Historic landmarks in the region include the Oratia, latterly known as Falls Hotel. With its colourful history - including that of a turn-of-the-19th-century tourist attraction to mid-20th century icon and surviving a serious fire - the hotel has now been relocated to Henderson. Today, many Oratia residents are proud of and maintain the historical roots of the area with local historical societies and preservation of many buildings.

Many people also love the beauty of Oratia's native bush and its close proximity to West Coast beaches, as well as suburbs such as Henderson and Titirangi. Says one local resident: "Where else in greater Auckland can one reach the central city in reasonable time yet be able to head in the other direction to hit the surf, and be able to live in the middle of native exquisiteness all at the same time."

Buying possibilities in Oratia are endless and range from apartments and small houses to large houses and bare land, in a multitude of shapes and sizes. Within this range of housing stock are spacious modern homes as well as original and relocated villas and bungalows. Indicative of the range of properties available are 4ha to 5ha plots of bare ex-orchard land selling for around the $1 million mark.

Large lifestyle estate households with four to five bedrooms will generally fetch anywhere from $600,000 to $900,000-plus. These homes tend to be on large sections of more than 2000sq m, with some on much larger sections (around 15,000sq m).

Large sections, between 650sq m and 1000sq m, characterise Oratia. Prices are also affordable, with many three- to four-bedroom homes on these sections selling upwards of $250,000.