Historic villa to be auctioned
An historic Christchurch villa once at the centre of a long-running insurance battle will be sold ‘‘as is, where is’’ after the owner’s plans crumbled in the earthquakes.
The earthquake-damaged 1889 Victorian home on Ranfurly St in Merivale, known as ‘‘Soanes House’’, will be auctioned on June 25, unless sold prior.
Elizabeth Drayton bought the category one listed property in 2005 as a ‘‘forever home’’ but the earthquakes put paid to that.
The property is currently uninhabitable and is supported by large wooden frames.
In 2018, Drayton reached a settlement with IAG after the row went to the High Court. Drayton was seeking $3.6 million for the rebuild, plus interest and damages.
The home was built by bricklayer and builder Harry Soanes, Heritage New Zealand records show. Soanes and his brother Philip bought adjacent sections and built homes for their families. Forty-five Ranfurly St remained in the Soanes family until 1952. Forty-one Ranfurly St sold at auction for $680,000 in 2016.
Both homes were considered significant as a display of the Soanes’ professional skills.
‘‘Although a standard square villa, it is exceptional for the quality of the materials and the decorative details, such as the brick corbels under the eaves, the detailed brick chimneys, the plaster undersills of the sash windows on either side of the front door, and the verandah with its cast-iron work and tiled floor,’’ the Heritage New Zealand report reads.