Snap up one of the first homes built on Lake Rotoiti peninsula, an Art Deco delight

Over the years, the owners have learned about the history of the home said to be one of the first on the Te Akau peninsula when it was built in the 1930s.

The original owner, Mrs Roberts lived there until the 1970s and was a force in the community, he says.

“Many of the multi-generational families on the lake remember visiting Mrs Roberts as children and will provide snippets of information when we catch them at Okere Falls Store,” says Paul.

The property was subdivided into five lots in the early 1980s, and at the same time a large reserve behind the home was gifted so this location is unlikely to be further developed, he says.

In the 1990s a substantial extension to the home was completed by another owner using a Californian architect who made sure it was in keeping with the original design.

The lakeside home became a great meeting point for the Lambert family, the extended family spent many holidays there, sadly losing Paul’s father a few years ago.

“It gave us six good years of just amazing family times that we would never have had otherwise. And this house was very much the catalyst for that,” says Paul.

The couple have brought the seven-bedroom, five-bathroom home, which sits on 2, 813 sqm of land, back to its former glory.

They worked with local interior designer, Marlene Hudson and with Rotorua builders Duncan Wills and Richie Bunker to update the home.

“We began with targeted updates to kitchens and bathrooms, but the scope expanded to a comprehensive restoration,” says Paul.

This included replacing all elements above ceiling level—rafters, insulation, and roofing, now backed by a 20-year guarantee—as well as rewiring, replumbing, and upgrading the hydronic radiator heating system with heat pumps in place of the original wood boiler.

The couple extensively updated the bathrooms and kitchen and modernised the layout of the home. The kitchen has bespoke cabinetry with timber inlays crafted by Paul Hodge of Design House Kitchens, in keeping with the art deco theme, a generous island and high- end appliances.

The house offers many separate spaces for guests, plus an external self-contained wing with gym and two large bedrooms each with their own ensuite.

“We’d regularly have my family visiting and Nic’s family – with seven double bedrooms it was easy to accommodate everyone, and the kitchen is big enough for everyone to cook the feasts you need to feed that army,” says Paul.

The owners’ bedroom suite comes with a lounge, ensuite bathroom, sauna and walk-in wardrobe. It also has an adjoining office or library to facilitate working from home.

Another source of pride in their tenure there, says Paul, are the gabion walls they installed at the water’s edge which is a public reserve.

The property never floods, the lake has control gates on it, it rises a bit but never close to the lawn, says the vendor.

“And with the private boat dock sitting at the 5-knot buoy, you can look out your bedroom window in the morning, see if it’s flat, and be water skiing 15 minutes later.”

The couple are now moving to the South Island to be closer to Nic’s family.

Over the years they’ve had people knocking on their door asking if their house is for sale.

“It’s a unique position and a unique house. If it’s the house you want, it’s not going to be on the market again, if you want it, the time is right now,” says Paul.

The lakeside home is being sold by Beth Millard at Bayleys Rotorua, on November 11. 

“Homes of this nature are generally a once in a lifetime purchase. It is a privilege to market this home steeped in history and refurbished with no expense spared,” she says.