In famed rose artist’s family for 74 years

Large property created by Nancy Steen has kept pace with the times, writes Vicki Holder

If you’re an avid gardener, especially one who adores roses, the name Nancy Steen will be familiar. Nancy (1898-1986) was a talented graphic artist, who worked with the renowned Len Lye producing sublime watercolours and stunning linocuts. She was renowned for pioneering an extensive collection of heritage roses, and she wrote The Charm of Old Roses, in 1966, a rose lover’s bible.

The magical Nancy Steen Garden in the Parnell Rose Gardens was dedicated to her in 1984.

Most of the roses Nancy produced were grown in her expansive garden at the huge property she and husband David developed at 30 Upland Rd.

When they bought it in 1944 it was a vast sweep of bare land. They had architect Geoffrey Rix-Trott design a home in classical style, while they set about landscaping garden rooms separated by flowing stone pathways set around a tennis court.

There was the Rocky garden, the oval White Garden, a Formal garden that looked inward to a pond filled with irises, and the Secret garden, which housed the vegetable potagers.

A year after David died in 1993, Nancy’s granddaughter Rosemary Waller and husband Paddy Finnegan bought the property.

Although it was beautiful, Rosemary says the single level home had very formal spaces.

“They always ate in the formal dining room and they didn’t have a family space,” she says.

“The kitchen looked out to the back fence and we wanted to look on to the gardens.

“So in 1997, Linda Clapham, of Swann Railley Clapham, redesigned the house, to get more of a family area. It made sense to go up.”

They created a large new kitchen with a high coved ceiling where the old bedrooms were and added a second storey for the new bedrooms.

The old kitchen became the new stairwell and laundry. They also raised the floor of the sun rooms, so the ground floor flows across one level.

“That gave us a lovely private sleeping area upstairs that’s so tranquil,” says Rosemary.

Adding the upstairs gave an overhang, which created a deep, sheltered front terrace.

It has been perfect for entertaining as it extends from the large new kitchen/family room, across the formal lounge, and soaks up the sun.

It has since hosted many celebrations including a 21st and several family weddings.

Rosemary says she did not inherit her grandmother’s green thumbs. “It’s a big house and a big property, so it’s so much work.

“I like simple lines and a sculptural look anyway. So we’ve simplified the garden and tried to get more edible plants like feijoas and bays.

“When we moved here we had young children so it wasn’t a time for extensive rose growing. We didn’t want to have to spray so we gave away most of the roses to friends.”

But a tour of the garden reveals there are still some left. It also uncovers Nancy’s secret to her success — her impressive compost system,