Home inside a historic Dunedin church

It’s not an experience many Kiwis will ever have, but for Leigh Overton and her family, living in a restored church has been “absolutely fantastic.”

“It was a bit of a dream to begin with,” Leigh says, speaking of the restoration project. But thanks to hard work from a small team with a collective goal of creating something truly special, the results were outstanding.

Today, The Olde Kirk is a versatile and unique space, ready for its next owners to make their mark.

33 Brunel Street has a history of great craftsmanship. The original structure, built in 1881, was designed by R.A. Lawson, the man behind Dunedin architectural icons such as Larnach Castle and First Church.

And when it came time for Leigh’s family to turn the house into a residential space, they brought in a master craftsman of their own, Richard Leckie. “Just about everything in here has been hand made,” Leigh explains, “Richard, who did the main build, is an incredible worker of wood.”

While, of course, changes had to be made to turn the building into a functional residential space, the goal at all times was “not to take away from the fact that it was a prominent Dunedin church when it was first built. We wanted to work with those features to turn it into a church home,” says Leigh.

And in this goal, they certainly succeeded.

Walking through the building, there’s no forgetting that the space was once a church. Lawson’s captivating gothic design has been thoughtfully preserved, but somehow the space simultaneously lends itself effortlessly to the comfort, cosiness and convenience of a family home.

The floor plan has been well considered to give the approximately 420sqm home great versatility. The six bedrooms are split – three at each end of the church (plus their own bathrooms with heated floors, and sitting rooms) with a central hall in between. A generously proportioned kitchen is at one end and there’s a kitchenette at the other.

Leigh’s favourite space is the open dining hall. For her, this room is imbued with memories of large family Christmases, and birthdays for family members of all ages. The space has even played host to art exhibitions and musical performances, such is its adaptability.

Another favoured place is on the seaward facing mezzanine. Leigh likes to use this as a relaxation spot where she can listen to music (enhanced by the building’s acoustic) and look out over the ocean.

At the same time, Leigh is quick to show that the property offers far more than just whimsy. “People might look at it and think it’s not necessarily a practical space, but the way we’ve designed the inside means we have areas we can open up and close down again. So we’ve made it very versatile really – and for us, as a family, it’s been absolutely fantastic.”

First-time guests often comment on the sheer scale of the home, as well as the warmth and cosiness provided by the red and green colour scheme, combined with the Kauri wood furnishings (made from the church pews). Heating is supplied by sensibly placed wood burners and insulation installed (where possible) in the ceiling, walls and underfloor.

Light is another central feature of the property – no surprise considering the grand side windows, as well as four rose windows, provide ample opportunity for sunlight to enter the space.

And the property’s beauty isn’t contained to the interior. The indoor/outdoor flow to the front garden is seamless, and when you step outside you’ll find yourself on a paved patio and landscaped garden that is private and secure.

While 33 Brunel Street has been a home for Leigh and her family, they’ve also run it as an Airbnb and holiday house. It’s possible to purchase the home fully furnished, making the transition into this incredible space even more straight forward.

She says that the next owners have amazing scope to use the property in all kinds of different ways. With the right permissions, The Olde Kirk could be anything from a home, to a wedding venue to a mixed use of residential and commercial.

“I’d imagine all kinds of people would be interested, not just a large family”, she says.

The property is a deadline sale, closing September 16, 2020.