Unique and one-off Edwardian Manor
An amazingly original Edwardian manor on a 1307-square metre site in the heart of Thorndon is for sale for the first time in more than 60 years.
The Category 1 historic place, at 31 Glenbervie Tce, was built by John Sidney Swan, architect of several well-known Wellington buildings, as a two-storey house in 1905 and progressively extended over the next 25 years.
He christened it “The Moorings” because of his love of the sea, which is reflected in the 465sqm villa’s nautical trappings, from porthole windows to an underwater-themed frieze.
Incredibly, much of the seven-bedroom house has been preserved, complete with original floorboards and fireplaces, native timber joinery, high ceilings, original wallpaper friezes, ornate cornices, burr door panelling, Florentine stained glass, exposed sarking and antique radiator heating.
“The materials were the best of their types for the time and paint a picture of the life of a wealthy Wellington family in the early 1900s,” the latest issue of Heritage New Zealand notes. “The grandeur has faded a little” a spokesman for the trust that owns the landmark says.
“What you’re buying is a project with a pot of gold at the end.”
It’s rare to find a character home so close to the city that hasn’t been compromised by modernisation, and the agents say this example offers immense potential for restoration or renovation in an exceptionally spacious and peaceful setting with fruit trees and drive-on to two off-street parks.
A grandly proportioned foyer leads to two formal lounges, a formal dining room, a kitchen and family/ dining area (with a non-working coal range), and a sunroom or conservatory.
The first lounge descends to a vast billiard or games room with a double-height stud, four skylights and a commanding inglenook fireplace.
The double – bedrooms and bathrooms are on the upper two levels, where the east-west aspect affords views of the city and harbour on one side and of the bush clad Tinakori Hills on the other. Other features include an eastfacing balcony, a bathroom with a shower-over-bath, a shower room, laundry, two separate toilets, two basements and attic space for extra storage.
“Unique and one-off may be overused terms in real estate, but not here,” Craig Lowe, of Lowe & Co Realty, says. “I’ve never seen anything like it before. While no one buying this will be going in with their eyes closed to what is required, this is a profoundly interesting and beautiful restoration project that will create an extremely valuable inner-city property.”
Property details:
Address: 31 Glenbervie Tce, Thorndon. Land area: 1307 square metres.
Floor area: 465 square metres. Rateable value: $3.8 million.
Price guide: Offers invited upwards of $1,800,000
Tender: Closes 12pm, October 27. Viewing: Sunday 1.30pm-2.30pm. Agents: Craig Lowe, phone 021 764 647 craig@loweandco.nz and
Chris Yiavasis, phone 021 499 350 chris.y@loweandco.nz
Licensed Agents REAA 2008.