Te Moana in Betty’s Bay is for sale through Pam Golding Properties at R8 million.

A Betty’s Bay home for sale through Pam Golding Properties at R8 million comes complete with the owner’s photo album filled with historic images of the area.

The 3 000 m2 property occupies a double stand on the very front row overlooking Jock’s Bay, and consists of a house, a separate guest cottage and several outbuildings.

Te Moana, the Maori word for ocean, was built in the latter years of World War Two, by Major Brunt a New Zealand army officer and engineer and his wife. It was one of the first homes to be built in the relatively-undeveloped area, which had few dwellings and even fewer services and amenities in place. Due to the lack of bridges, all the building materials had to be transported across the Rooi Els and Palmiet Rivers by pont, and the couple lived in a small wooden shack made of old packing cases, while construction was underway. They eventually moved in 1947, and the home has had just two owners since then.

PGP’s area manager for Betty’s Bay, Mike Bisset, says there are traces of Brunt’s engineering skill everywhere, from the spring floors and high foundations to the Rhodesian teak and Oregon pine woodwork – much of which he handcrafted himself.

“One significant change from the original design is the roof - the original wooden shingle roof was replaced with natural slate, just in time to survive a 1970 fire which devastated a number of the surrounding homes.”

Call 028 272 9145.