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Victorian heritage villa selling for $50k to make way for tunnel extension

A heritage-listed Wellington villa that could be yours for a mere $50,000. The catch...it will need to be relocated.

Colleen Hawkes
Last updated: 18 March 2026 | 3 min read
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A historic Wellington villa, Ettrick Cottage, is for sale for $50,000, but the new owner must relocate it. The cottage sits on NZTA land and must be moved to make way for the second Mount Victoria tunnel.

This rare 1870s worker's cottage has a Historic Place Category 2 listing and retains many original character features, including rimu floors. It also includes modern conveniences, offering a unique restoration project for someone wanting to preserve a piece of Wellington's history.

The cottage is considered a fine example of an 1870s workers’ cottage.

Flashback: Ettrick Cottage started life in Austin St, Mt Victoria. The builder-owner sold it to Samel Atkins and his family lived here till 1955. It was moved after a developer bought the site in 1994.

There are French doors opening out at the rear.

‘If I won Lotto I wouldn’t be selling’

Flashback: Samuel Atkins with family outside the Ettrick Cottage at Austin St, Mt Victoria. Atkins was a local identity in Wellington.

There are solid rimu floors beneath the vinyl and carpet.

he kitchen is relatively modern, but there could be an opportunity to open it up.

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Colleen Hawkes Colleen Hawkes
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