The Devonport Flagstaff Page 22
October 21, 2022
Elegant main-street sanctuary The lure of a look inside some of Devonport’s finest homes is seeing tickets to an annual charity tour selling fast. Janetta Mackay gets an early viewing of one property. Tucked away in a landmark building on Victoria Rd is an apartment that will surely be one of the star attractions on this year’s Homes of Devonport tour. The spacious and gracious home of Sharon and Eddie de Heer in the former Post Office building is one of the village’s secret hideaways. Not only does it have lovingly restored art deco character, but the award-winning second-storey space also opens to a private decked outdoor entertaining and garden area. “It’s a secret, a little place that looks so amazing,” says Sharon of their home in the three-storey building the de Heers bought in 2007. They were drawn by both the investment opportunity and the chance to create their perfect lock-up and leave apartment, sited a ferry ride from the city and where they can walk round the corner to everything they need. “This is our forever home,” says Eddie. But it has taken the couple plenty of work to turn it into their dream property. Shortly before they headed off on a river-crossing course in Wanaka, the active pair, who intend to undertake the South Island leg of the Te Araroa trail, invited the Flagstaff upstairs for a preview of what home-tour ticketholders will see. They say they agreed to participate because the event raises money for charity. With Hospice being one of the beneficiaries, Eddie, whose mother received “fantastic” nursing in one, was particularly drawn to the cause. They also know people are curious about what is behind the façade of the much-loved local building. “We’ve been going to the home show for years. We love property, we love architecture
Outside and in... The former Post Office and its second-floor apartment (below) remain sympathetic to the building’s 1920s origins
and we love design,” says Eddie. They intend checking out the other homes on show in early November. In all, 10 properties are included on the tour, ranging from villas to contemporary builds to a converted church. Devonport Rotary started the annual event and Bayleys real estate backs it. Along with Harbour Hospice, Dementia Auckland and Rotary’s Charitable Trust will also benefit. The de Heers, who moved to Devonport
from South Auckland, were drawn by the sea and the chance sighting of an advertisement when the old Post Office building was put up for sale. They saw its potential and have become big fans of apartment-style living. They think the village could be brought alive and its businesses benefit with more apartments. Their four-bedroom home, at 230sqm, with the outdoor area adding another
Show time... Other properties featured in Homes of Devonport include (from left) a Cheltenham villa, a contemporary Victoria Rd house and (on facing page) a church conversion
