Park-like Property a Special City Setting

By Lyn Humphreys

A very special city property belonging to one of Taranaki's pre-eminent gardeners, George Fuller, is on the market.

The double-sized section and its mature trees flows seamlessly into a greenbelt reserve which has a walkway into Vogeltown Park. George, a celebrated former curator of Pukekura Park for 25 years and an internationally recognised orchid expert, died recently. It has been left to eldest son Chris, one of the couple's five children, to point out the special nature of the property at 6 Torbay St, in Lower Vogeltown.

The property is a legacy to George's enormous knowledge of plants. Mature specimen trees and bushes abound.

The orchid shade house where he did much of his propagating sits off the double garage. The more exotic of the plants are going into the care of designated people he knew would keep them in the manner to which they are accustomed. Copious notes of plants and family history will also go into safe keeping. A biography is planned down the track.

The secluded, quiet property on the cul-de-sac off Carrington St is well below street level and is reached by a sweeping brick-stamped concrete driveway. It is lined by mature lancewoods and the neighbouring bank has a plethora of healthy plants including red hot pokers and flaxes and one of two feijoa trees which produce extra-sized fruit.

A well-tilled vege garden next to the hot house has a healthy crop of greens well under way.

Chris said his mother, Doris who also loved the garden, and his father spend many happy years in their house here. Doris predeceased George.
The established nature of today's property is quite different to the one they started shaping. "It was just a paddock when they came here," Chris recalls.

The house was built in the 1980s when George and the family were living in the park curator's home on Victoria St and was initially rented out until he retired from the park.

The house is reminiscent of those the family no doubt lived in while in Sweden before returning to New Zealand. All the rooms in the three-bedroomed modular home are wood-lined, similar to the Lockwood style. The lounge and adjacent alcove dining room have a sloping ceiling and sit out into the garden, the ranchsliders opening onto a cobbled patio.

On the other side, a new wooden deck has been installed leading into the lush garden. The rooms get all-day sun. The exterior cladding is cedar and there is a Decramastic tile roof and aluminium joinery.

The small cosy galley kitchen has a gas hob and a dual wall oven as well as a pantry.

Inside the front door is a separate laundry room with elongated windows. There's a big hall cupboard for storage and each of the well-lit bedrooms, with windows on three sides, also have large wardrobes with sliding doors. The master bedroom's wardrobe and cupboards are impressively large.

The bathroom has a separate shower box and bath and a separate toilet.
"The new owner can move in without having to do anything," Chris says.

Moving into the garden, Chris can identify some of the trees and plants but most he cannot, explaining that none of the children have followed in their father's horticultural footsteps.

Off the lawn in the main garden, the heavily laden kowhai trees are a magnet for both wood pigeons and tuis. The big trees along the sheltering bank include a tall healthy walnut tree and a persimmon which rub shoulders with a large supote tree. All are prolific producers.

Set within the lawn is a deciduous specimen tree which is about to produce a waterfall of stunning golden leaves. To the rear is a towering conifer with draping branches giving the appearance of green velvet. A glass greenhouse is perched under the trees and will remain.

Even the well-cared-for lush green lawn is a talking point. His dad chose a slow-growing grass called microlaena stipoides, Chris says. "He spent a lot of time getting it right."

The space and privacy here and the established quality plantings make the large property a special environment. "In theory, it could be subdivided but that would be a shame," Chris says.

He is hopeful the new owner will be a keen gardener and will have an appreciation of his father's love of plants.

QUICK LOOK

WHERE: 6 Torbay St, New Plymouth.
HOW BIG: Approximately 1570sqm; about 110sqm in home.

HOW MUCH: Buyer inquiry over $460,000 invited (Valuation available on request).

WHAT YOU GET: Notable garden property in central New Plymouth with a spacious Scandinavian-influenced home.

Call Dianne on 0800 434 872 for your personal appointment to view