NORTHERN SLOPES APPEAL

On the market for the first time in 45 years, this unique and extraordinary property spans a colossal 3190sqm nestled within Remuera’s exclusive northern slopes.

As owner, Gay Dobbie, shares, “it’s over three quarters of an acre and is absolutely atypical because of its native bush and the fact that we’ve got 12 neighbours and no one can see us.”

Gay and Tim Dobbie purchased the park-like property in the late 1970s and initially lived in the original older home onsite, then two years later built the new four-bedroom, two-bathroom residence for themselves and their children.

Architect Stewart Ross designed the classic 209sqm residence after they showed him properties that they admired around Auckland for him to get a feel for what they were after.

“We always liked old houses and it’s got lots of lovely leadlights and things that we’d collected,” Gay says.

“It’s a timber house – it’s redwood on the outside but has extensive use of rimu on the inside.”

A separate double garage with workshop space also offers a generous guest loft bedroom and ensuite.

Warrington Road’s picturesque, double grammar-zoned neighbourhood is another huge drawcard, she says.

“If you’ve ever lived in a right of way off a cul-de-sac, it’s quite a different thing from living in an open street.”

Warrington is off Ridings Road – where people are known to stop to take photos of Rangitoto and the harbour – with number 18 tucked at the bottom of the valley, which offers a wonderful green outlook instead.

“It’s incredibly private down here – people walk into the bush and say, ‘gosh you’d think you were in Titirangi!’ There are lots of nikau filled with tui and wood pigeons.”

The couple’s son Cam says that they’ve loved the sense of community here and has fond memories of growing up in such a special place. “Being down in a cul-de-sac really meant that we got to know our neighbours well. In the early days, it was the street morning teas.”

Gay adds: “Every week everybody in the surrounding streets had a weekly morning tea and we shifted around the houses. All the children knew everyone.”

As Cam points out, “you still get that sense of community today, but now there’s also a WhatsApp group where all of the neighbours communicate.”

One corner of the property borders Dunholme Lawn Tennis Club, which is a social hub for the sought-after Remuera neighbourhood.

“You go straight through the gate to the tennis club. There are three courts there and the clubhouse,” says Gay.

This is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity and, as Gay points out, is the last remaining big block in the area.

“When we moved here there were five big properties right across the bottom of the valley, but they’re now all gone and have been chopped up.”

Barfoot & Thompson agent Dermot Kelly, who is marketing the property with colleague James Doole, says that this is like a lifestyle block in the middle of the city.

“It’s extremely rare to find this kind of land available on the northern slopes. It’s beautiful and they’ve looked after it well.

“Someone might buy it and think ‘ok let’s just sit on it for five years’ and then build the killer house.”

There is also serious development opportunity here.

“Although it is single house zone under the unitary plan, there is the potential to still have up to five dwellings on the site with council approval,” he explains.

“As you’re going down the driveway on the left-hand side, a similar size site was developed a few years ago very similar – that was four dwellings I think.”

“It’s over three quarters of an acre and is absolutely atypical because of its native bush and ... no one can see us.”