Home Front: For Sale: Coatesville, New Zealand

New Zealand’s largest home hits the market

text by: Nikki Prange

April 1, 2009

It may come as no surprise that the founders of Christmas hamper company Chrisco would build a house with a dedicated Christmas room—a space designed specifically for wrapping holiday presents. And that is just one unique aspect of Richard and Ruth Bradley’s New Zealand estate. At nearly 48,000 square feet, the home in Coatesville, about 15 miles north of Auckland City, is the country’s largest, requiring four years and more than $15 million to build. Designed by local architect Greg Noble, the four-story, English country home includes seven bedrooms, each with an en suite bath, as well as a guest cottage, an indoor-outdoor lounge, a wine cellar, a theater, heated floors, and sophisticated audiovisual and security systems. Framing the property—whose grounds include three man-made lakes, bridges, a formal garden with a maze, a tennis court, and a boathouse—is a 1.2-mile stone wall that took masons three years to build. Elsewhere on the estate are two swimming pools, grape vines, and a six-car garage.

FACTS & STATS
Home: The auxiliary building on the nearly 56-acre property can be set up as a full-scale winery.
Setting: The estate is approximately 15 minutes from the popular beaches on the North Auckland Peninsula and is home to four miniature ponies and two llamas.
Price: $20 million
Inquiry: Browns Sotheby’s International Realty, +64.21.530.000, www.brownssothebysrealty.com