AN AUSTRALIAN IN EPSOM

Here’s a rare opportunity to buy Federation-style home and a neighbouring empty site in Grammar Zone, writes DONNA FLEMING

Some houses are so special that their owners feel like they’re custodians who are fortunate to be a part of the home’s history.

Auckland couple Lisa and Janek feel that way about their home. They’re only the third owners of the impressive country estate-style property in Epsom, which was built in 1913 in Australian Federation style for surveyor and civil engineer Preston Chambers, who moved here from across the Tasman.

Then called Wyaba — Aboriginal for “our home” — the house stayed in the Chambers family until 1995. The next owners carried out a huge renovation in 2000, which included re-locating the billiards room and seamlessly adding an extra wing.

The home borders an empty section at 26 Epsom Ave which is used as a huge front garden.

Lisa remembers coming up the driveway from Epsom Ave to view the property in 2010 and instantly being smitten.

“As soon as we saw it, we fell in love. It’s a wonderful home and we feel really privileged to live here,” she says.

It’s been a fabulous home for the couple’s children, who were aged 11 and 13 when they bought it, to grow up in. The expanse of land at 26 Epsom Ave made a perfect soccer pitch, while the long driveway was ideal for skateboarding and riding bikes. Meanwhile, the swimming pool, tucked behind private hedges, was much used

by the children and their friends.

The rooms in the home are all accessed from a wide L-shaped hallway. Many of them open out via French doors to the covered north and west-facing wraparound veranda, including the large living/dining and kitchen. Two of the four bedrooms lead out to the veranda as does the office, which could be used as a fifth bedroom.

There are four fireplaces in the house, several of which have been converted to gas. The master bedroom has one of them, plus a walk-through wardrobe with huge storage space, and a large en suite with a clawfoot bath.

The home also has a big laundry with lots of storage, a basement workshop, wine cellar and double garage with gym/ workout space.

Lovely period features like plaster ceilings, wood panelling and detailing, and sash and leadlight windows have been carefully preserved. The addition of more contemporary fixtures, like striking light fittings, enhances the character while bringing the home into the 21st century.

The lounge is Lisa’s favourite space. An elegant room with a generous square bay window, its panelled walls conceal one secret door to the kitchen and another to a drinks cabinet.

The walls of the billiards room are also feature the stunning wood panelling. The original billiards table comes with the house but is currently in storage, as the family use this space as a music room and second lounge.

While the house hasn’t needed major work, Lisa and Janek have kept it well maintained and further upgraded it, putting in heat pumps, DVS and a new gas hot water system, decorating throughout, and installing entertainment systems.

Outside they’ve landscaped extensively, put in a parking area for visitors and added remote-controlled gates.

Now the children have left home, the house is too big for Lisa and Janek. “Now it is time for someone else to enjoy it like we have,” says Lisa.

Agent Lisa Cleave says 26 Epsom Ave and 87 Ranfurly Ave can be bought together or separately. The 1027 sq m Epsom Ave section is single house zoning, while the 2782 sq m property on Ranfurly Rd is mixed housing urban.

“It’s quite a package to be able to purchase together. There are lots of options, like using Epsom Ave for a tennis court, or you could build a dwelling for extended family. It is a very special and rare opportunity to get such a wonderful character home on this size of land in the heart of Epsom.”

Sale: Tender closes July 22

Contact: Peter and Lisa Cleave, UP Realty, 021 756 246; Myles Cleave, 027 512 0002

“It’s quite a package to be able to purchase together. There are lots of options, like using Epsom Ave for a tennis court, or you could build a dwelling for extended family.“