Historic villa on market for first time
A meticulously maintained landmark home that has cameoed in almost every photo taken from the CBD of the Whanganui River over the last century is on the market for sale for the first time.
The 1905 villa at 3 Rees St, in Durie, did sell once before in a private sale in 1988 when the original family shouldertapped the current owners directly about buying the house.
Herbert and Ada Collier, a well-known musical family, built the grand home on Durie Hill after immigrating to Whanganui from Manchester in the UK. It was passed down to their daughter whose children then inherited after her death.
The Colliers also ran a music importing business H. Collier and Co on Victoria Ave and the name and the detailed facade that contained organ pipes could still be found on the building despite the shop itself being home to a boutique gift shop.
Bayleys listing agent Carmel Harris said the grandchildren inherited it and approached her vendors about buying the Rees St home because they were wellknown in the city for their passion for historic homes.
The historic - but not heritage protected - home had been meticulously maintained by the current owners, she said, and was the first she had been in that had been kept so much in its original condition.
The Rees St owners had been committed to keeping the home as authentic as possible and the original wooden shutters, stained glass windows and the floorplan were the same as when it was first built. There was also some of the original scrim on the walls because the owners felt it suited the old home, Harris said.
“All the original door handles are still on the doors and they all still have their keys. The detail is still there.”
The two-story home was one of the original homes on Durie Hill and boasts impressive views of the Whanganui River and CBD. The 1599sqm section is spread over two titles, which have a combined RV of $1.175m. The grand home and its many balconies can be seen in black and white photos of Durie Hill dating back to the early 1900s when it was one of only a few homes on the hill. Fast forward 100 years and it is now surrounded by a mix of older heritage homes and newer architectural ones.
“It’s a very iconic house. If you have taken a shot from the town side of the river looking up towards Durie Hill, this house is likely to be in the picture. It’s a very iconic spot.”
Harris said Whanganui was steeped in history and the city’s older homes only added to its charm and appeal.
“There are plenty of people putting the effort into maintaining these beautiful homes. The one thing I love about Whanganui is the feel of it – there are a lot of treelined streets.”
“It does add to the soul and vibe you get from our town,” she said. “There’s just so much history here – it's quite phenomenal.”