Hobnob with the rich and famous neighbours

WHILE owner Matthew has cherished the all-day sun, incredible warmth and solar heated swimming pool at his elegant Parnell property, it’s the custom designed putting green he’ll probably miss the most.

He and his then wife Jill purchased the Andrew Patterson-designed, weatherboard residence 17 years ago and happened to be living across the road at the time.

After watching it being meticulously rebuilt, they were taken by the aspect, luxury features and quality of the build, and successfully purchased at auction.

Their son was a baby when they moved in and “as soon as Henry stopped playing on the grass, we put the putting green in,” Matthew says.

It’s located in a prestigious neighbourhood off St Stephen’s Avenue, known as ‘The Golden Triangle’.

You’re in good company here, says Ray White Agent Ross Hawkins, who is marketing the property with Ben Sceats.

“It’s two doors down from John Key’s house. In that location there’s a lot of the rich and famous living incognito around you and it’s filled with really high value properties.

“It’s that part of Parnell where everybody wants to be,” he continues.

While the home has been refreshed with new carpet and paint, stylish interiors have beautifully stood the test of time.

Crisp white walls are anchored with chic parquet flooring in the ground level’s open plan kitchen, living and dining space, which flows out poolside.

Matthew says they have enjoyed many barbecues out there over the years, thanks to the abundant sun that floods the area.

Well-established grounds and lush gardens are now very low maintenance and are fully fenced. It is equally a home for all seasons, with the separate formal lounge and dining room a cosy winter retreat.

“Another thing we have used a lot is the gas fire, we’ve had that going many evenings when entertaining,” he says.

Upstairs offers the three generous bedrooms, which are accessed via the lightfilled central atrium stairway. The spacious master retreat boasts a generous modern ensuite, a walk-in wardrobe and its own private balcony.While the classic design has broad appeal, Matthew says “it’s a real lock up and leave home”.

The quiet neighbourhood is an easy stroll from Rosie cafe´ , Parnell Rose Gardens and Judges Bay, with the Parnell village also around a 10 minute walk up the hill.

“I feel very, very fortunate to have bought in here 17 years ago. But things have changed and it’s time for us to move on,” Matthew says.

Hawkins says here is a real opportunity to buy in the Golden Triangle and that this home strikes a perfect balance between the larger estates and apartments that traditionally make up the area’s properties.

“It’s a freestanding, Patterson-designed house on a half site, so you’re not having to pay for a full site. As it’s not an apartment, you don’t have body corporate or those sorts of things.”