By LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK
When John and Christine Fernyhough bought their Remuera mansion, they shifted it 8m to the east to improve the harbour view.
Now, 14 years later, the high-profile Auckland couple are on the move themselves and their Remuera Rd mansion is on the market.
The 91-year-old home is tipped to be the first residential property in New Zealand to fetch more than $10 million.
It is also the first homestead in the country to be marketed by Sotheby's International Realty, which specialises in promoting luxury properties to its clients.
"The home will be the most expensive residential sale in New Zealand ... It's been beautifully cared for and restored," says Michael Boulgaris, of Barfoot and Thompson, which is also handling the sale.
Mr Fernyhough, former Electricorp chairman and NZ Dairy Group board member, and Mrs Fernyhough, who set up the Gifted Kids Programme and co-founded Books in Homes, paid $4 million for the property in 1987.
That was a record price at the time for a residential property in New Zealand.
But the homestead, named Fairholm, is better known for being repositioned.
In 1987, the Fernyhoughs paid more than $25,000 to have the house shifted to make better use of the afternoon sun and to take advantage of views over the Waitemata Harbour.
Today the house, which featured in the National Business Review's Top 100 Homes list in August, has one of the "best views" in Remuera, says Mr Boulgaris.
The 0.4ha property has an Auckland City Council rating valuation of $5.2 million and comes with a swimming pool, tennis court, century-old trees and an English country garden.
Real estate agents are expecting offers of between $9 million and $11.5 million.
Buyers also have the option of acquiring the Fernyhoughs' furniture.
Mr Boulgaris says the property has "served its purpose" as a family home.
The Herald understands the Fernyhoughs have bought a 1960s-style home in Parnell, which they plan to restore. Mrs Fernyhough declined to comment.
Another high-profile house in Remuera has yet to sell. The mansion belonging to New Zealand's richest man, former Lion Nathan chairman Doug Myers, has a price tag of more than $10 million.
Mr Myers now lives overseas.
www.myproperty.co.nz
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