Multimillion-dollar homes sell to neighbours
Tuesday, 23 April 2024
Buyers of two of Christchurch’s most luxurious and pricey houses have been revealed as well-known businessmen who aren’t having to move far.
On Scarborough Hill, husband and wife Hamish and Karen Doig have bought The Rocks, a modern cliffside home overlooking the ocean at 1 Whitewash Head Rd.
Hamish Doig is managing director of commercial real estate firm Colliers, and also owns and is redeveloping Sumner’s local cinema.
The couple already owned a home a few doors up Whitewash Head Rd, another on Scarborough Rd and some others in the area, before buying The Rocks.
While they were reluctant to reveal the price they paid the previous owner, property investor and developer Philip Carter, it is understood to have been between $8m and $9m.
“We’ve loved the property for a long time - it’s one of those unique properties that doesn’t overlook any neighbours and has magnificent views,” Hamish Doig said.
“We’d approached Philip a couple of times before and he didn’t want to sell. I was surprised to see it come on the market.”
The home has an almost 400m² footprint on a 362m² section.
It was described by listing agent Ali Aitken as a “thrilling and breathtaking” masterpiece.
Doig said they moved in a few days ago and it is “pretty special”.
“It’s lovely, it’s everything we hoped for.”
They will sell their other two homes on the hill, he said.
Meanwhile in Fendalton, Humphry Rolleston and his wife Debra Rolleston are recorded as the new owners of 8 Wood Ln.
They paid $8m last month for the grand home, which is on a 3300m² riverfront section opposite Mona Vale.
Humphry Rolleston has had wide business interests for many decades, was the founding chairperson of the Christchurch Foundation, and still has shareholdings and directorships with multiple companies.
The Rollestons own four other adjacent properties on Wood Ln and around the corner on Fendalton Rd.
The Wood Ln home was put up for sale by Horncastle Homes founder Bill Horncastle and his wife Mrrietta Horncastle. The couple built it about 15 years ago.
The 538m² home comes complete with a swimming pool, a tennis court and large gardens.
Fendalton and Scarborough are among Christchurch’s dearest suburbs. Scarborough has an average value of $1.76m, according to CoreLogic, and Fendalton $1.63m.