Freemans Bay: The cottage that grew

This inner city villa is full of memories, some connected to the Prime Minister, writes Liz Dobson.

40 Anglesea St, Freemans Bay.

If Diane Percy's grandchildren had their way, the teacher would never sell her historic inner-city villa and it would remain a haven for many more school holiday adventures.

But despite the protests from the older ones among her eight grandchildren, Diane is selling her home of 21 years to begin some adventures of her own.

"When I sell I'm going to study Spanish in South America then I'm going to travel around Spain," Diane reveals.

"I bought the house when my four daughters were at school, then it became a refuge between houses when they were university students, and now it's just me living here and I don't need all the space."

That space comes in handy in the school holidays, though. The study is turned into a makeshift office by her three 10-year-old grandkids, or the large table in the open-plan kitchen and living room has a blanket strewn over it to construct a cubby space. Then there is a magical garden Diane has created under the huge oak tree that borders her property.

Her land slopes down to a once-swampy area that has been revitalised into flax and fern nooks. The grandchildren spend a lot of time playing in the garden, looking for fairies - and finding them, of course.

Diane never imagined that she'd stay so long in the three-level villa that has a vast history - both from early settler times and with connections to our Prime Minister.

Thought to have been built in the late 1860s or early 1870s for some of the first settlers of Auckland, the home was originally just four rooms. Diane believes that when the then cottage was built, Freemans Bay would have ended near the bottom of Anglesea Street.

It was home to tradespeople, engine drivers, boilermakers and steel constructors, with the Davis family owning the home for many decades. The last family member to live in it was Peter Davis and his wife, who was then a lecturer at nearby Auckland University but is now better known as Helen Clark, PM.

Diane loves the many aspects of owning a villa. When she bought it from Peter Davis, she needed room for her four young daughters so she turned the attic space that was once only accessible by ladder into a large bedroom. Since then, she's removed the large brick fireplace that filled a lot of space in the kitchen and living rooms and recreated one big room.

The basement, which once was the laundry area and housed the copper, is now a self-contained space with a bedroom, bathroom, study and kitchen area. It's ideal as a teenager's retreat, or Diane envisages it could be a studio or work from home space.

The attic is now Diane's bedroom with gorgeous views of the oak's huge branches. The deck that leads off the kitchen has recently been extended.

The home's sunny front lounge overlooks the picket fence and the street that is now popular with young families.

Diane also adores the social aspect of the area. Ponsonby Road, and all its attractions, is a few minutes' walk away, and the Link bus is close by for access to the city.

At the moment, Diane teaches English to adult students, but she can't wait to become a student herself in more exotic locations.

Vital Statistics

BEDROOMS: 3

BATHROOMS: 2

GARAGE: 0

SIZE: Land 455sq m.

PRICE: $779,000.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun/Mon 2pm-2.45pm.

CONTACT: Susie Weaver, Harcourts, ph 0272 864 662 and Rick Parore, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 0274 932 782.

FEATURES: A huge oak tree overlooks this picturesque villa that comprises three levels, each with a bedroom. It's ideal for a teenage family or as somewhere to work from home, with Ponsonby Road a two-minute walk away.