A beachfront property with roots stretching back to 1907 has hit the market on one of Christchurch’s most coveted stretches of coastline, offering a rare chance to own a piece of the city’s architectural history.
The 889sqm estate at 122 Esplanade, Sumner, is being sold by owners Rick and Catherine Wilkie, who are downsizing after 33 years in the home. Ray White Metro (Christchurch) agents Anuj Badkar and Amber Ray are handling the sale.
The property was originally built as a holiday home for Quill Morris, an early Christchurch wine and spirit merchant who clearly had a taste for the finer things.
Quill commissioned the Edwardian residence complete with chandeliers and a wine cellar, and had the house built 1.2 metres off the ground – a decision that would prove remarkably prescient more than a century later.
Quill also commissioned a garage on the property in 1908, a detail that speaks to considerable wealth at a time when automobile ownership was an extreme rarity in New Zealand.
The home’s elevated construction meant it held up well through the Canterbury earthquakes.
Afterwards, the Wilkies undertook a painstaking restoration of the historical front of the house, including redoing the original Marseilles tile roof.
In 2012, they added a substantial rear extension designed by Rick’s brother, an architect.
“My brother, who was an architect, designed the back extension, which won architectural and Master Builder awards,” Rick, a developer and former commercial diver, said.
The result is a property that blends two distinct architectural eras – the original Edwardian frontage with a contemporary rear addition – on a site just steps from the Sumner Beach surf break.
Rick said the couple had cherished their years on the esplanade.
“Waking up to the glorious sunrises from the master suite has been wonderful, and Catherine says she’ll miss being able to hear the ocean, but we have decided it’s time to downsize,” he said.
Agent Anuj Badkar described the listing as a standout for the Sumner market.
“This is not simply a residence, it is a generational trophy property,” he said. “Set a literal stone’s throw from the surf of Sumner Beach, this estate is a narrative of two distinct eras colliding flawlessly.”
No asking price has been disclosed.