One family with 75 years in St Arnaud

This original bach tucked amid native bush at St Arnaud was built way back in 1948, and the wider family that built it still owns it.

But probably not for much longer. Although the bach has been tightly held by family members through the generations, the time has come for the retired owners to sell, listing agent Bruce Batty, of Summit Real Estate in Nelson, says.

“It’s a very original Kiwi bach on the high point of the property, and it’s in very good condition for its age,” Batty says.

“It has beautiful rimu floors and tongueand-groove linings. And the original Shacklock range in the kitchen still cooks a great roast.”

The agent says a key reason for the fact the bach has weathered so well is that it was built on concrete piles, which has allowed a good airflow underneath the house.

At 60m², the bach is small but it comes with three bedrooms and a sunroom, which could be a fourth bedroom. The sunroom also could be a place for a comfy sofa. At present, “socialising” happens in the kitchen-diner and outdoors on the large deck.

The “quaintness” is enhanced by the handcrafted timber wall linings, which are the same as the ceilings, and all the cupboard doors throughout the bach. And there’s a large fireplace right next to the old range.

Batty, who has sold many properties in the area, says the location also makes it a treasure. It borders a national park on two sides, and there is a track down through the park to the Kerr Bay foreshore.

The bach is not the only building on the 4047m² property. The original boatshed-garage remains intact, and there’s a small outbuilding with potential for redevelopment – it has a separate toilet.

The agent says the family is private and doesn’t want to talk to the media, but he can vouch for the fact that they have loved the bach without reservation. And that’s just one reason it still remains true to its origins.

What price do you put on such an historic slice of bach history that has never been exposed to the market? Batty says inquiries for the property at 14 Robert St, St Arnaud, are invited over $695,000.

SUMMIT REAL ESTATE They don’t come any more original than this classic Kiwi crib at St Arnaud that has been in the same famiy for a staggering 75 years.