Sought-after address near Coastal Walkway

View on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js1QaLj1tYQ

By Mike Shaw

When someone lives in a home for more than a quarter century, you know there have to be good reasons for such an impressive tenure.

In the case of 38 Hamblyn St, it was a combination of location and home for retired Eltham farmers Bert and Jack. Even after Bert had to bow to rest-home care, Jack (the family nickname for Daphne) stayed on in her beloved home as long as she could.

Nephew Peter's quite familiar with the quality of life in this home, as he visited here many times over the years.

They were fortunate in finding the house, he says. The couple told him about a good friend from New Plymouth visiting them at their Eltham farm and extolling the virtues of retirement in the city.

"Bert said to him 'You find me a good three-bedroom brick home in New Plymouth and I'll retire'. And he replied 'I've got just the place for you ... I'll sell you mine'.

"The next day, they arrived there, had a look around and asked him 'How much do you want for it?' It was a done deal."

Despite their retirement focus, 38 Hamblyn St is a good family home, Peter says. "We had a lot of family times here ... birthdays and all that."

The quiet Strandon location was appealing from the start, with the bonus of proximity to East End Beach and Fitzroy shopping. And the development of the Coastal Walkway has only enhanced that appeal.

Peter says his uncle used a mobility scooter in his later years here and would often head off to cover the short distance from the house to the walkway. "He would go right out to the lee breakwater at the port; and he didn't have to cross the main road."

By turning east instead, Bert could head out along the walkway towards Waiwhakaiho.

In his earlier years in the Hamblyn St house, Bert enjoyed boating and built the separate double garage alongside the house for his boat. That kept the wealth of basement garage space free for cars.

The home is a quality residence built about 1970, Peter says. "There's nice native timber in it and, underneath the carpet, the floor is beautiful timber, too. These homes were built well and, with some well-planned refurbishment, someone can have a home that's better than new."

The home presents well to the street, with its basement in plastered block and brick walls above. The iron roof has been recently replaced.

Access to the second-storey is via an easy-rising concrete ramp to the front door, or using the internal basement access to the central stairwell. The twin garages are separated by that stairwell but are linked with a passage behind.

Back here behind the garaging, you also find the large separate laundry with the home's second toilet, and a spacious rumpus room adjacent. Bert gave it a games focus and put in a pool table, dart board and treadmill.

There's a partition wall in the rumpus room, suggesting this could be used as a lower bedroom with its own lounge area - a teenage retreat, maybe?

The back basement door out to the rear grounds reveals a compact, easy-care lawn, with a well-organised and sheltered vege garden to the side. Peter remembers this as a productive patch, producing plenty of potatoes and tomatoes in season.

It would be an easy project for new owners, however, to repurpose the space for barbecues and relaxed outdoor living. A spa pool, maybe?

Taking the central stairs up, you appreciate the warm grain and silky texture of the rimu handrail alongside you, complemented by the railing around the top of the stairwell.

Up here, you find the three bedrooms at the front of the house enjoying morning sun, the family bathroom and separate toilet around the corner of the hallway, and the spacious living areas across the back of the home where they bask in the warmth of the afternoon sun.

An original rear corner deck area in front of the kitchen was closed in by Bert to expand the living areas, Peter says. From here, you have a view shaft across neighbouring properties to the sea. It emphasises just how close this home is to the sea and walkway.

With its north- and west-facing glazing, this former deck is a real suntrap. "Bert had his nana naps in there. It's a great little possie for that ... beautiful and cosy with the sun coming in. You just relax ... anybody would go to sleep in there."

There's plenty of room in the adjacent main lounge that can be opened up or closed off with glass sliding doors. An office nook is available at the end of the lounge.

The layout of the house lends itself to a subtle and effective redevelopment. The wealth of living space suggests that most of the dining area behind and to the side of the kitchen could be closed off and turned into a contemporary Ensuite and walk-in wardrobe for the front-corner master bedroom.

Hamblyn St has become a highly desirable address in the city and the presentation and potential of this home is sure to attract plenty of buyer interest.

Open homes:
Saturday 5th December: 11.30/12.00pm
Sunday 6th December: 12.00/12.30pm