Another summer for Sumner’s ‘bastion for misfits’ surfer flats under demolition threat

Monday, 24 November 2025

Flatmates Gus Murray, 23, left, and Tom Graham, 23, enjoy the sun in Sumner.

Worth more than $3 million and targeted for eventual demolition, Sumner's two famed surfer flats will survive for another summer.

The pair of run-down and shaggy-looking properties have been earmarked for demolition to make way for an apartment-style planned development, but a fresh “for rent” sign has gone up on one of the two neighbouring shacks.

One of the condemned flats is occupied, the other is up for rent.

Landlord Denis Harwood told The Press in August he hopes to start demolition in mid-2026, to build a development he described as “the jewel in the crown of Sumner”. The 21-apartment luxury complex would be four storeys high with basement parking, and worth $78m to $85m, he said.

He did not reply to an opportunity to provide an update this week. There are no recent resource consent applications for the project, according to city council records.

The houses are at the corner of the Esplanade and Marriner St.

Despite their plywood patchwork and roofs resembling a hodgepodge of different colours and rusty iron sheets, Harwood’s bungalows have been sought-after by hundreds of tenants over the years, thanks to their prime location just metres from the ocean.

Its rich history is a drawcard for the current flatmates living in the occupied property of the two. They call the home the “shore shack”, meanwhile the second property known as “dog town” is the one up for rent.

“It’s a long serving little bastion for misfits,” said 23-year-old musician, surf coach and student Gus Murray.

Gus Murray and Tom Graham appreciate the rent of their “pretty dang affordable” flat.

The member of Silver Scrolls nominated band There’s A Tuesday said “one of the coolest things about living here” was being stopped on the street by former flatties who date back decades.

“This old lady once stopped by and said ‘I flatted here in 1973 and we used to party all the time’,” said his flatmate, 23-year-old design worker Tom Graham.

“I get the vibe that lots of Sumner people still appreciate it being here,” Graham added.

Surfboards dominate the entrance to the Esplanade flat.

The six-bedroom flat costs about $860 weekly, which each tenant pays a different amount for depending on their room size, making it “pretty dang affordable”.

Rows of surfboards line the hall.

“Surfing is definitely a big part of it,” Murray said about the home’s appeal. “We like to try and be a relatively outdoorsy flat … going on walks, having a little jam, it’s quite a muso (musical) household.

Lions keep watch outside the Marriner St corner property.

“We always have old flatties coming over to stay or people who want to hang out for a moment so it’s a real mixed bag.”

Former flatmate Nick Williamson, 32, who still hangs out at the home after living there for 18 months, said the group are used to hearing talks of development which would end the flat’s legacy, but shrug it off because nothing ever eventuates.

Before talking about fresh development plans last December, the owner had planned to build 20 five-star serviced apartments in February 2016 but it was never realised.

“There's always so many whispers about what's going on,” Williamson said. “As much as it sucks that it definitely will be developed one day, it's just the way of things.”

Despite the uncertainty, the flatmates said they have maintained the ageing property.

“There's like an opportunity here to look after the place … keep it clean, you want to treat it well,” Graham said. “I think we take quite good care of the property.”

There is a latch on the fence between the two neighbouring properties, that has become the tenants’ “secret gate” to go between the two when socialising.