Remuera: High society

Owned by several prominent New Zealanders in its time, this attractive property offers gracious family living and bags of style. By VICKI HOLDER.


This quirky Arts and Crafts-style home in Remuera has hosted several famous New Zealanders in its time.

The tall, imposing home set among magnificent trees was built in 1913 for Ted Wilcox, a dentist. The owners, Ruth Sami and Peter Thomas, say it was designed by an architect who studied with Frank Lloyd Wright. Although it features several design characteristics reminiscent of the Wright style, there's nothing to verify this fact - but Ruth should know, for the builder was her uncle.

Jean Batten's family later bought the property when the Wilcox family moved to another home by the same architect in Riddell Rd. Jean Batten's father was a dentist who worked for Mr Wilcox. The Governor of the Auckland Harbour Board was another high-profile owner, and the famous ballerina, Rowena Jackson, also lived in the house.

It's easy to see the attraction of the home, which is unlike any other Californian bungalow in Auckland.

With white weatherboards on the lower level and painted shingles on the two storeys above, it rises to a steep pitch with intriguing little leadlight windows scattered across the front facade. Its beautiful, perfectly balanced proportions are dominated by gracious curves and arches, which are first encountered in the wide, curved entry steps leading to the front porch.

Open on one side, the entry porch incorporates an alluring original stained-glass leadlight window patterned with wavy squiggles inset with large dots - an unusual design that might have been influenced by Wright. Inside the foyer, you are struck by another long window of a similar design.

The richly detailed interior has been beautifully preserved. A handsome, wide, rimu staircase with a crafted balustrade leads to the bedrooms on the upper floors.

Dark-stained timber panelling supports the tapered timber pillars framing the windows and french doors to the lounge. Heavy ceiling beams, the light brown tiled fireplace and battened picture rails are typical of the bungalow era in the lounge. But the curved leadlight window that spans the room to form a bay in front is quite extraordinary. The glass restorers, who recently replaced all the leadlights at vast expense, say at 13ft it's the largest they have seen in Auckland.

The lounge opens to a dining room through more tapered timber pillars with intricate machined detailing at the top. It features the same beams and wall battens as the lounge and has an original chandelier above the table. The surface of the ceiling is formed by white canvas stretched taut across the room.

Leadlight windows to one side open to a servery where meals can be passed from the kitchen. Another leadlight window in an internal wall brings light in from the sunny family room next door. Through french doors, a sun porch opens to the garden through a sweeping arch.

The family room and kitchen with casual dining area share sunny informality behind leadlight windows, which overlook a back garden enclosed by brush fencing.

Secure off-street parking is plentiful along the side of the house, so the garage to the rear has been turned into an extra bedroom for children's sleepovers with storage next door.

There's ample space for children upstairs in the four big bedrooms on the second floor. Two of the rooms lead through french doors to a sunny office, once part of a wrap-around veranda. A huge tiled bathroom invites you to soak in a traditional clawfoot bath.

Apart from the addition of central heating little has changed over the years. However, when the owners popped their heads through an opening in the ceiling of the toilet a few years ago they discovered a huge loft cavity. It seemed a pity not to put it to good use, so, by building an extra stairway into the third level, they extended with a large fifth bedroom - a peaceful master sanctuary with an office, en suite and wardrobe. Bifold windows open to awesome views over the Ellerslie Racecourse to the Coromandel Peninsula.

In a quiet street close to the Remuera village and zoned for some of Auckland's finest schools, this spacious home exudes a rich, quiet atmosphere to enhance family living and entertaining alike.


Vital Statistics


ADDRESS: 60 Clonbern Rd, Remuera.

FEATURES: Arts & Crafts-style home with original character details, including timber work and leadlight windows; spacious living areas include lounge, dining room and family area; five bedrooms; two bathrooms; central gas heating and three fireplaces on ground floor; security alarm; garage converted to bedroom and storage; four telephone lines into house plus ADSL; Sky digital to third floor and Sky basic to ground floor; cables laid for electric gates and intercom; close to shops and schools.

SIZE: Land area 774sq m.

AUCTION: Midday, March 30, on site.

AGENTS: Michael Hood and Tina Gray, One2One Realty. Ph 520 2102 bus; Michael 021 677 066 mob; Tina 021 800 076 mob.