SCHOOL ZONES:
Ponsonby Primary and Intermediate,
Auckland Girls' Grammar, Western Springs
College.
CONTACT:
George Passmore, ph 021 595 586
Harbour St in Auckland's St Marys Bay is aptly named, with incredible views across the sparkling Waitemata. Its figurehead is undoubtedly the magnificent mansion at number 16 - built more than 100 years ago for a now long departed harbour master.
Grahame Heenan has owned it for 17 years, and because some of the street's inhabitants have lived there all their lives, he and his wife, Elaine, have been privy to all sorts of fascinating trivia. "It was originally at the other end of the street," he explains. "Then some time around the 1920s or 1930s it was moved to its current site.
"We've been told that it was literally rolled here," adds Elaine. "It's all quite hard to imagine."
Around the same time, much of the land in front of the house was being reclaimed from the sea, in order to allow the building of Auckland Harbour Bridge and development of what is now Wynyard Quarter.
"Apparently, the sea lapped at the bottom of the cliff when the house was first put here. One old local said that he thought they were compensated by £5000 for loss of their riparian rights, but that's a huge amount and I suspect it may have been just £500. "
Later - around the 1980s - the house was divided into four flats and the legendary Topp Twins rented one of them. "We've been told they had very good parties," Grahame laughs.
When the enthusiastic builder took possession in the late 1990s he had a few projects on the go, so he rented the house out. "It was OK at the start, but after years of student tenants it became pretty dilapidated. We used to have one student in charge, and goodness knows how many renters!"
The decision to move No16 into a new era meant Grahame and Elaine camping for five months in what is now the ground floor guest bedroom. "These were the rooms we did last," Elaine remembers with a mock shudder. "It wasn't always very pleasant."
The as-new 2014 house is testament to a remarkable transformation. It's effectively a new build clad in a history-rich coat, and is perfectly designed in terms of modern convenience.
"We didn't actually change anything structurally," says Grahame, who's done at least 20 such makeovers. "We used what was here."
Image 1 of 5: 16 Harbour Street, St Marys Bay. Photo / Ted Baghurst
An expansive living and dining area has grandstand harbour views. Four bedrooms and three bathrooms make this a home that would suit any family makeup - while being ideal for a busy sociable couple, too.
The wraparound veranda on the second storey means that every bedroom has outside access via French doors, and a wonderful view - whether of the bridge, the marina or the Skytower.
Grahame and Elaine have another home in Pauanui and have decided that's where there future lies, but if they had opted to put down roots in the city, this house would have suited them perfectly.
