Wealthy family buys former council building

One of New Zealand’s richest families has bought the former Devonport Borough Council building at 3 Victoria Rd and plans to turn it into an upmarket restaurant serving wines from its Waiheke vineyard.

The Spencer family, which owns a large parcel of land at Stanley Point, has purchased the building for $2 million, the Flagstaff understands. The offer was far in excess of others lodged of around $1million or less. Berridge Spencer, son of the late magnate John Spencer, who died in 2016, plans to establish the restaurant and have an office upstairs, the Flagstaff has been told.It is understood substantial earth- quake-strengthening and modifications will be completed before the restaurant opens.

One of the attractions of a hospitality business is thought to be as an outlet for the Man O’ War wines produced at the Spencers’ Waiheke Island vineyard. Eke Panuku confirmed the building has sold with settlement on May 17.