Re/Max Realty/Stuff
There’s a red phone box and an old red post box outside the former Awakino Post Office, which has been extensively restored. The property has come onto the market for the first time in 18 years.
This story was first published by RNZ and has been reprinted with permission.
A little slice of King Country history is up for sale at Awakino – permanent population 12.
Built in 1908, constructed of heart native timber and largely in original condition, the old Awakino Post Office and postmaster’s residence is on the market for the first time in 18 years.
It has been lovingly restored by former Aucklander Garry Wycherley on behalf of his son Gregg, who has owned the building since 2006. Wycherley describes the old Awakino Post Office at 3 Gribben Street as a “timeless classic”.
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The property, which has a traditional white picket fence, has been lovingly restored by the owner’s son Garry Wycherley. It is currently run as an Airbnb.
“Built in 1908 it was the standard government formula for a small town post office. There’s one in Kataia that’s exactly the same in terms of the construction. We’ve actually got the original floor plan and building specifications from the old Ministry of Works.
“So, the front of the house was the local post office and the back of the building is where the postmaster or postmistress lived in a large three-bedroom house (now four).”
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The original heart rimu walls feature throughout.
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A lot of old post office paraphernalia remains.
Wycherley says the building was pretty much as it was in the early 1900s. “It’s all heart rimu with native rimu floors and the original sash windows. The main lounge, which was the post office has a ceiling that’s probably 14 feet [4.3m] high – all native timber.
“There are fire places in two of the bedrooms and what was the post office area, so it’s totally original in terms of the floor plan.”
Wycherley has previous history with renovating historic buildings in the village, having renovated the Awakino General Store built in the 1880s. He now runs this as the Awakino River Lodge.
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Red walls enliven the main living area – all the rooms feature the original rimu floorboards.
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The building has a long hallway leading to the bedrooms and two bathrooms.
He says the renovation of the old Awakino Post Office had a light touch. “When I say renovated, the floor plan hasn’t changed except what was originally the lounge is now a bedroom. We’ve just repainted and pulled all the carpets up and repolished all the floors, and did some renovations to the kitchen.
“We’ve extended the kitchen and pushed it out into the backyard a bit, and in terms of the backyard, that’s been totally rebuilt. We’ve got a really big courtyard there. The back of the property has been turned into a French or Italian outdoor olive-tree style living area.”
Wycherley says his granddaughter is a top amateur ballet dancer and the old post office is being sold to finance further ballet education for her in France.
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This is one of four bedrooms – three are original and one was a former living space.
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Most rooms have the original fireplaces.
The old post office would be perfect for someone wanting to escape the big city rat race.
“It’s on 1.2 hectares of land, it’s a just about fully renovated heart timber villa built by real people. I think the foundations are about quadruple what’s required now. It’s got a very big outdoor area, two bathrooms and two toilets. And there’s a local school only five kilometres away. It’s only one hour to New Plymouth and two to Hamilton.
“It’s the real deal country lifestyle,” Wycherley says. “There’s about 12 people living in the Awakino Village, and only about 15 houses.”
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There’s even an original shed out back.
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Awakino Post Office listed by Sharon Mace, Re/Max Realty, New Plymouth 3.1.24
Wycherley said there was also plenty to do. “There’s a fully operating, reasonably high-quality lawn bowling club, a local hall that’s over 100 years old, and fishing and hunting … how much fish do you want?”
The old Awakino Post Office has more recently been run as an Airbnb. It has a rateable value of $600,000.
It is being marketed through Sharon Mace of Re/Max Realty, New Plymouth, who is inviting offers by January 25, 2024.
STUFF
The Marshall family bought the dilapidated Mt Roskill fire station in 2011 and has spent years transforming it into two stunning residences. The station sold for $3.35m. (Video first screened in March 2023)
