Temuka’s own Dr Who ‘tardis’ placed on the market for sale

Temuka’s own Dr Who ‘tardis’ - which has been the town library, doctor’s surgery, plunket rooms and a restaurant – is on the market for sale

A heritage-listed home - which in its colourful lifetime has been the town library, doctor’s surgery, plunket rooms, and a restaurant - has been placed on the market for sale.

The character-filled red brick building is known around South Canterbury as the ‘Tardis of Temuka’ in reference to the deceptive amount of space hidden behind its front doors.

Now a four-bedroom home, the mainstreet property has a Heritage New Zealand category 2 classification for its period design features and architecture.

The property at 53 – 57 King Street is being marketed for sale at auction on March 16 through Bayleys Timaru. Salesperson Sue Morton believed the imposing single-storey residence had a unique ambience – sustaining its links to the legendary sci-fi TV series whose central character speeds around the universe in a telephone box space ship

“It really is like Dr Who’s tardis,” she said. “You walk in through the front doors and then suddenly there all this space inside. No one would dream of what is here just from looking at it from the street.”

The 380 square metre dwelling was converted into residential use in 2003, with the large arched windows designed to let in ample light into the library reading tables becoming a feature of the living rooms and foyer. One wall remains from the library days - with numerous books from years gone by stacked on the shelves. The book collection is included in the sale.

Behind the imposing wooden front doors is a glass-encased foyer leading further into the dining room, with rimu floorboards leading to a wing containing the master bedroom with its own deck to the lush grounds.

Ms Morton said the 1348 square metre landholding featured two private courtyards overlooking landscaped gardens and a secluded spa pool area.

Just like being in a tardis, when you’re inside the home, there’s no noise from outside – even though the property is on Temuka’s main street,” she said.

“For anyone working in town, it literally means you can leave the car in the garage and walk to work in the CBD just a few hundred metres away. It is a 10 minute drive to Timaru airport or two hours to Christchurch International Airport.”

Ms Morton said the doctor’s surgery and waiting room had been converted into what is now the home’s kitchen. Venting flues were the only clues to the kitchen’s former commercial use servicing the restaurant.

“The garden water features amidst fountains, rock walls and goldfish pond were established by the current owners - ensuring this haven of privacy is again an area unknown to the wider world. An incredible protected magnolia tree adorns its own garden area.”

A new three-bay garage sits to one side of the 380 square metre home, with the driveway coming off King Street also providing additional off-street parking alongside a side entrance to the property.

The property is being sold with an Earthquake Commission payout of $99,478 which is transferable to any buyer on full sale and purchase settlement.

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