Primed penthouse

Apartment at 9A/9 Victoria St East, Auckland City, belonging to Alma and Charlie Abrahams. Photo / Supplied

9A/9 VICTORIA ST EAST, AUCKLAND CITY

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SIZE: 104sq m (approx.)

PRICE INDICATION: CV $725,000.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 1.30-2pm.

ON THE WEB: citysales.co.nz/9558

CONTACT: Gabrielle Hoffman, City Sales, 021 0216 6611.

AUCTION: October 28.

Buying a home over the internet can be a leap of faith but Alma and Charlie Abrahams were confident, with their two sons looking after their interests in New Zealand.

Based in Britain, the Abrahams wanted to have a permanent base while visiting Auckland.

As Alma says: "Our grown adult sons live in New Zealand and have done for 15 years or so. We love the country and of course love visiting our sons, which we try to do yearly. We rented houses but we want to start making twice-a-year visits, so it made sense to invest and buy a property that we could call home when in Auckland, hence the search for something suitable."

After six months of searching, their youngest son saw what looked like an ideal prospect: a penthouse apartment in the Lister Building.

Alma says they bought in October 2014 and spent the Christmas/New Year period in the apartment and loved it. "It ticked a lot of boxes. Within walking distance we have bars, chic restaurants, the waterfront, and entertainment -- as in the cinema, bowling alley, museum and the art galleries. We have the lovely leafy oasis of Albert Park and very quick motorway access. And of course it's a shopaholic's dream to be in the centre to shop until you stagger in the door."

Alma says the distinctive styling and construction of the Lister Building also appealed. Designed by Thomas Mullions and referencing classical elements, it was built about 1925 and designed to house medical and dental practices. It now has a mixture of apartments and offices and although some of the character features were removed in recent times, it retains its ornate wood panelled foyer.

Image 1 of 3: Apartment in the Lister Building is a slice of Auckland property history. Photos / Supplied

The Abrahams' apartment has a neutral colour scheme that softens the building's solid reinforced concrete construction. Separate dining and lounge areas open through bifold doors to an 80sq m rooftop terrace -- a fantastic outdoor entertaining area in the heart of the city.

They enlisted the help of Colin Pauling, of Waitakere Architects, to draw up plans to redevelop the apartment, "roughly doubling in size the living accommodation, creating a unique luxury penthouse in the centre of Auckland".

Alma says: "Unfortunately living in London and trying to execute the renovations is proving more difficult than we first thought. So it is with a very heavy heart we have decided to find new owners for our dream. The sale includes the blueprints if required; a vast majority of the legal steps have been made with great success."

Though they have given up on this dream, they still plan to settle in this country one day.