This “once in a lifetime” property has an interesting past and promises a fulfilling future. The home, in various iterations, has nurtured one family for four generations and has not came to the market previously.
Members of the Pillans family whose family seat was Myres Castle in Scotland, arrived in New Zealand via India, settling first in Otago then moving to Tauranga and establishing a city orchard. The death of her grandparents saw Mary Pillans inherit the Pillans home and orchard in Otumoetai, the locale now better known as Pillans Point. She and her family emigrated from South Africa in 1963 to live in the original homestead built around 1905 on the perfect promontory for estuary, harbour and ocean views.
Subsequent generations have respected its heritage while extending and adapting the home to suit evolving family needs. The interior exhibits a range of native timbers, notably in the very high stud ceilings, in floors under Axminster carpets and in panelling. The craftsmanship continued when later, one room was reinstated to a library and again, a decade ago, in the creation of the new kitchen/ dining area with its superbly executed cabinetry and wine storage.
The original three-bedroom home has expanded in two directions and had some internal alterations. One addition created a “granny flat” for a parent on the north end, featuring a bright sunny lounge with French doors. The equally sunny front veranda is partially closed in as a delightful place to laze, work or for children to play indoors. Bathrooms were upgraded and then, in preparation for its biggest improvement, the original kitchen became a comfortable den beside the formal dining room.
The piece de resistance, and the place you will gravitate to, is the light flooded pavilion which brings this home triumphantly into the 21st century without compromising its essential character. This space spans kitchen with capacious scullery and dining space with window seat, French doors face one deck and bi-folds front over 19 sqm of all-weather covered alfresco living complete with outdoor fireplace and gas heater. Savour hours here where views framed by mature trees see the city wake up and evening lights dance across the water.
Beside the pavilion, find a spa pool and an inground pool where afternoon sun invites leaping into the 2-metre-deep end or cooling on the shallow steps at the other. You can almost jump in the water from the pool house beside double garaging and workshop space.
This is a special place, with heart and soul and ample options. Relax and entertain inside and out from the open living area. Add drama to dinner in front of the picture window in the dining room. Host expansively in a sitting room that has seen many an occasion, a large party, 100 for dinner…
Endless adventure for children with lawns for games, a tree house built so sailors could spot it from out at sea, local walkways around the estuary below and popular Pillans Point School around the corner.
A rare opportunity to secure a superbly sited landmark property that combines privacy with city proximity, where you can continue the tradition of life in charmed surroundings.
