PM Alumni House Online Listing Attracts 30,000 Visits

Wellington real estate agent Steve Fejos never had 30,000 hits on an online ad until Hill Haven – the former home of Prime Ministers Michael Joseph Savage and Peter Fraser – hit the market in November .

He expects the four-bedroom, two-bathroom property built in 1909, with views of the harbor and botanical gardens, to sell for more than its assessed value of $ 1.65 million.

The history of the location at 66 Harbor View Rd in the suburb of Northland was stimulating online curiosity, Fejos said.

“All the locals know that. I knew this property long before I got into real estate. At the age of 10, I knew this property was the former home of the Prime Minister.”

But the house’s real selling points were its size and location.

“Northland has two sides: a sunny side that has a view towards Karori,” said Mr. Fejos.

“It’s not the million dollar properties just because they have the view; the million dollar properties are the ones that look out into the city and this is definitely one of them. But it’s also a very big house… it’s unique level, it’s quite unique. “

The house was purchased by the government for the use of Premier Savage in 1939. He died of cancer a year later and Peter Fraser took up residence. He remained until 1949 when he was defeated by Sidney Holland, who preferred to live in the Crown-owned house at 41 Pipitea St in Thorndon.

The house has been owned by David and Kathryn Smith for over 20 years.

The 407 m² house sits on a section of 1629 m². The property has been restored but many of its original features including wooden doors, ceilings and verandas have been retained.