The secret mansions of Lower Hutt

With it’s Imax cinema, mall and suburban sprawl, Lower Hutt is not a city you immediately associate with mansions. You would, however, be wrong - it’s actually full of them.

Back in the day the “gentry” of Wellington chose the Hutt’s Western Hills, seaside cliffs, and rural valley floor as the idea place to build their “country” homes.

There are the homes you may already have heard of: The former Prime Minster’s home, Vogel House, in Central Hutt, which was the focus of a legal stoush in 2016 between the grandsons of the Vogel family, and the government, which wanted to sell the home.

The land behind this home has since been subdivided and developed into town houses.

But did you know there is also a 1912 farm house, and a seven bed mock Tudor mansion in Lower Hutt, that even folks who’ve lived in the city for years might not know exist if they hadn’t come on the market? Lets take a look at some of the Hutt City’s secret stunners:

Abutting the Belmont Regional Park, Belmont in the Western Hills, is dotted with homes from just about every period, from vintage homesteads to ultra modern townhouses. Few folks may realise the lower terraces of the suburb is also home to a 1912 villa that sits in the middle of a whopping 3200m² - mostly flat - garden.

"That's one of the beauties of it. It's not right up the bloody top,“ says listing agent Vanessa O'Reilly of NZ Sotheby’s International Realty. ”It's on a really big flat plateau, and set far enough out from the hills that it doesn't lose the sun, and it's not eternally damp and dark."

Inside, the home has been renovated to a very high standard, and lovingly decorated by the current owners, with chic neutral walls that would make the perfect backdrop for an art collection.

The main house has an open plan living/kitchen/diner, with waterfall marble kitchen island, and a second reception room. There’s also an enclosed sun porch - very popular during this period - that is being used as a music room, complete with baby grand piano and matching chandeliers, for maximum bling.

The main house also has two double bedrooms a powder room and family bathroom.

"They have a 12 Foot stud too. So, they feel enormous."

The master bedroom has a sun room, which is a full sized single room. The owners are using this space as a nursery, but it could be a dressing room, or sitting room or TikTok inspired reading nook.

"It's still got all the original, beautiful wood panelling and built in closets, and there's even a man robe [a walk-in wardrobe where a valet may have slept], which is very unique. It's so lovely to see it's still there and intact."

A third bedroom, with ensuite bathroom and private lounge is found across the drive way in a studio.

The home could suit extended family living, with grandparents or an adult child in the studio, or empty-nesters who want room for the grand children, or “dinks - double income, no kids”.

While it has a CV of $1,280,000, O'Reilly says this doesn’t adequately reflect the value of such a unique home or the value added by the most recent renovation and landscaping. The home at 33 Wairere Rd is for sale by negotiation.

Another of the Western Hills suburbs, Kelson is usually thought of as a 70s subdivision. The Woodroyd Estate, in the middle of the suburb, is a little older than that however.

Built in 1921, 772 m² Woodroyd Manor is a 6 bedroom, Arts and Crafts, mock Tudor mansion that comes complete with a 26ha estate mostly covered in native bush - for those that really want to feel to the manor born.

The property also has two self contained cottages - a one-bed and a two bed - for staff, or friends, or extended family.

As the home was once a lodge offering accommodation, the entrance way of the main house brings you straight into a British Pub-style space with hand-carved woodwork, leadlight windows, and Carrara ceilings.

Outside, one of the most outstanding features are the home’s view of the city below, down the long, manicured, GrandeLawn.

According to the listing, the estate is “perfect for families, entertainers, entrepreneurs, or visionaries who want space, income potential, and one heck of a conversation starter. You won't find another like it”.

While it’s not clear what the vendors’ price expectations are for this massive property, and extensive home, the CV is $3.87m and it last sold in 2015 for $2.6m. The listing is with Vinay Kumar for Harcourts.

The bay is part of the Eastbourne enclave, which, like Pito-one, used to be a town of it’s own, but has since become part of Hutt City. It’s one of the city’s bluest of blue chip suburbs, with many large, beautiful homes.

Surrounded by neighbouring homes, down a long, shared driveway, there’s something extra special about 25 Cheviot Rd. With its late Deco columns and portico, it looks like something from an Agatha Christie novel, and oozes genteel charm, cocktails at 5, and jazz on the record player.

Inside it has been extensively renovated and updated, to suit modern living, without sacrificing any old world glamour.