A house that became a home... 50 years on | Bay of Plenty News | Local News in Bay of Plenty

A house that was built more than 50 years ago but has never been lived in has a new owner after one of the most unusual property sales in the region.

The Cameron Rd home was built in 1959 by previous owner Peter Welch and another builder. Mr Welch died this year and his property was sold last week at auction.

The trustee of Mr Welch's estate, who spoke on the condition they weren't named, confirmed the property had never been lived in.

"Mr Welch was a member of the navy in World War II. At the end of the war he came to New Zealand, initially to Christchurch, then decided the Bay of Plenty was the place for him," the trustee said.

"He had been here a little while and his mother and sister were still in England so he built the house on the understanding they would come to New Zealand but they never came.

"The sister came over to visit once but she never lived here," the trustee said.

Mr Welch subdivided the original property many years ago and lived in a small house on the neighbouring section, the trustee said.

He only knew of one occasion where people stayed in the house overnight.

"One New Year's Eve the neighbours had a house full of people and [Mr Welch] let a couple of them sleep the night," he said.

"That one night was the only time someone has ever slept in the house, to my knowledge."

The three-bedroom house and all its contents are in pristine condition, including the handmade parquet flooring and stainless steel kitchen bench.

"[The parquet flooring] is as perfect as the day it was laid because it's never been walked on," the trustee said.

To the left of the entrance is a spacious lounge with open fireplace. Textured wallpaper projects off the walls.

Original furniture remains in the room.

Inside the dining room is a table and chair set, which has never been used. Adjacent is an old radio and record player, about the size of a filing cabinet. About a dozen records, including Harry Belafonte, remain inside the cabinet.

The three-metre stainless steel kitchen bench is without a scratch and the wooden drawers slide in and out effortlessly. Inside the cupboards are copper-bottomed pots - still with the original packaging stickers on.

The analogue buttons on the unused wall oven and cooking hob are an obvious reminder of the house's original era. A chip-heater stands in the corner.

Down the hall, the bathroom has a shower with a colourful mosaic floor and separate toilet and bath units. Its only modern feature is a new showerhead.

The bedrooms are also unique and have built-in dressing tables, with his and hers wardrobes on either side. Two single beds remain inside the house.

The new owner, who wanted their identity kept secret, said it would be a shame if the new tenants damaged the property and hoped they would embrace the history within the house.

"It is beautiful ... and a bit like you've stepped back in time," she said.

"Some things need to be changed though, like the blue [exterior]. That might go, it doesn't really fit."

"A few other things need to be done. We've checked the wiring and the power but there's no television aerial."

The new tenants of the house will be Christchurch residents seeking relief in the Western Bay of Plenty. After three months, they will decide whether to continue renting the property, the new owner said.

"We won't be leaving it empty," she said.