54 WAIREKA ROAD WEST, OMATA
A grand old villa about to celebrate her centenary has been well loved, restored and modernised by a succession of owners.
When they bought the lovely old home, Wayne and Marion Moyle were suitably impressed by the extensive renovations carried out by local farmers, Len and Heather Jury, when they bought their one-acre Omata property at 54 Waireka Rd West in early 2015. The Moyles picked up the ball and continued with the improvements.
The classic villa, which is listed with the Historic Places Trust, has an interesting past. It was moved from Tukapa St in the city on to the property in 1966. It is full of beautiful timbers, including polished matai floors, and many of the character features of that bygone era. It is presented in immaculate condition.
“It may be old, but it’s been well and truly maintained and lovingly cared for over the years,” Marion says. The Jurys, who own the adjacent farmland, bought back the property in 2013. It was Len Jury’s families home, so for him the upgrade and restoration was a labour of love. Intent on preserving the homestead, the Jurys had a builder’s report carried out and proceeded to get stuck in. “They worked very hard and kept records of everything they had done,” Marion says in admiration. “They also cleaned up the gardens and spent thousands on plants. It gave us a lot of confidence when we bought it to see how much they have done.” The records are available for potential buyers to look over.
The Moyles bought the home in early 2015 but find they no longer need all the room it offers. It has four bedrooms, the master with an ensuite upstairs, and there’s a sleepout. The family has had some great times here, but their two sons and three daughters are now adults “and really well settled”. “And we have itchy feet,” Marion admits.
The open-plan living space fills with sun, aided by the spacious north-facing conservatory where Marion and Wayne spend a lot of their leisure time. “It’s really clever. When the sun is low in winter it traps and feeds the warmth into the house and it’s cool in summer when the sun is higher. The windows all open up and that brings in a lovely breeze. We always have our breakfast out there. It’s a lovely spot to sit in winter. “
The couple have done their own renovations, extending the home to install a lovely new contemporary kitchen and re-plumbing. With not one but three filters, the tank water could easily be the cleanest around. The lounge has French doors on to the deck and there are pretty Delft tiles in the bay window which attract the afternoon sun. The high ceilings, set off by a modern chandelier, are stunning. Marion says she has spent hours in here and the rest of the house with her paintbrush. There are internal French doors through to the tiled family room, dining room and kitchen.
“A big family can go off in different pockets,” she says. A central solid fuel burner, imported from Germany and installed in 1998, is very efficient in warming this area, she says.
The high-spec kitchen has granite benches, a double sink and boasts a 90cm five-burner Smeg induction cooktop. Marion loves it. “You can boil water in 30seconds. You can go to one and keep the food warm.” The oven is big enough to cook a couple of turkeys for Christmas.
All the three bedrooms are full of character with their high studs, exposed wooden floors and picture-frame beadings. A genuine 1920s chandelier in the hallway is a stunner. The smart tiled bathroom has a large shower and, in keeping with the era, a lovely new deep bath with claw feet. There’s also a separate toilet and laundry and a large storage cupboard.
Up the stairs are beautiful views of the city and sea, with one of the Sugar Loaf Islands on the horizon. On a good day, you can see three mountains, Marion says. There is a Moisturemaster installed in the ceiling which recycles the air in winter. There’s an ensuite with a shower and toilet and plenty of leisure and storage space. Ultrafast broadband is available throughout the house. Outside, a smart new concrete tile and stone pathway has just been completed and the home’s exterior has recently been painted. While there’s no garage, they find the large double carport provides plenty of shelter for the vehicles.
The gardens are all low-maintenance, covered as they are with wood chips. A barbecue area is in a sheltered spot in the garden. They have raised vege gardens and a big glass house nearby. Out here, there’s room for their boat to be stored and the huge man cave, with a power supply, provides all the space needed. There’s all manner of fruit trees growing in the orchard. There are loquats providing huge fruit, she says, the avocado is in full flower, there are plums, apples, tree tomatoes, feijoa, passionfruit, figs and all the citruses as well as peaches and an old damson tree which fruits all year round.
While it’s time to move for the Moyles, they can look back with love at this grand old dame and their work in improving and caring for it to let future generations also enjoy it. “We feel we owe it to the place. It is a beautiful spot.”
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