Coast and Country

This huge villa was built in Cambridge in the 1890s and has moved twice since then, finally settling in Point Wells, writes

When Cathy Holgate and husband Mark bought a 7788sq m site with private water access and a 480sq m barn at Pt Wells, they kept an open mind as to what they might do with it.

The answer came in the form of a charming 130-year-old villa with wraparound veranda, which had already been moved once within the Cambridge area.

Cathy, who’s been the local vet at Orewa Beach for 17 years, describes the house as a “grand old girl”.

She says: “Our friends owned the house and for various reasons they couldn’t carry out their original plans, so they offered her to us.”

Cathy and Mark rushed to get the required consents. “This is a huge house, at 230sq m with a vast central corridor.

“Moving it was a challenge, but we cut it in half at the same point as the previous movers had done, and managed to transport it with no major problems,” she says.

Because the section was already well-established in terms of trees and hedging — planted around 50 years ago by a previous owner — the grand old girl looked instantly at home.

She’s been extensively remodelled and modernised, and as a result presents as a practically new home, within a lovingly restored heritage shell.

There are four huge bedrooms, two period-style bathrooms and a vast living area with what is quite possibly one of the largest, best equipped kitchens ever. It comes with the added bonus of a scullery.

Cathy says she and Mark were fortunate to find local tradespeople who poured their hearts and souls into the rejuvenation process. “When we say that practically everything is new, that’s really true.”

The result is a warm, safe waterside home with all mod-cons, and nothing a new owner need do.

The barn, almost twice the size of the house, is seriously well decked out, too. A previous owner utilised it as a palm nursery, and with its kitchen and endless space it lends itself to other uses.

Cathy and Mark feel confident this property will be bought by somebody seeking the ultimate luxury lifestyle, with boating and fishing right on the doorstep, and Warkworth just a 15-minute drive away.

Dianna Coman from Bayleys Warkworth says that the house is just perfect, and the barn is a fantastic asset, too.

“It’s open plan and very rustic.” She adds that its unusual to get so much living space in one property. “It doesn’t come better than this.”