When Clara Sheppard sold the Lake House apartments in 1920, Takapuna Borough Council building permits had already been taken out for the building by Thomas Buddle Arthur and Gertrude Winstone (on 23 August 1919 and 23 December 1919). There was also a third permit dated 21 June 1920 by Clarice Arthur and probably Gertrude Winstone. These permits were for constructing the second staircase to the upper floor and filling in the veranda to form a kitchen and bathroom. The builder was Angus Martin Gunn, who died in 1928 (aged only 48 years).
The Lake House flats were managed and marketed by Richard Arthur Ltd. from 1920 onwards. Thomas Arthur was the third generation of Richard Arthur Ltd., auctioneers, house furnishers and real estate agents. Thomas also served on the Auckland Harbour Board from 1915 to 1919 and the Takapuna Borough Council from 1915 to 1925. He lived in Clifton Road and died in 1951.
In June 1923, the Lake House was described as having two self-contained flats, with furniture and all conveniences.
In April 1926, Richard Arthur Ltd. advertised five self-contained fully-furnished flats with either four or five rooms each, with a caretaker, for two pounds or two pounds 10 shillings a week, to "permanent tenants". In November 1930, the firm called for tenders to install electricity across five flats. As an indication of the generous size of the rooms, in May 1930 the occupants of Number Five were offering a piano for sale.
On 15 September 1941 another Takapuna Borough Council building permit was taken out for carpentry work on the wash house and in January 1942 the whole building was put up for auction by Richard Arthur Ltd. It was described as having 18 main rooms, five bathrooms, five toilets and five kitchenettes. The land available was now just one rood and 21 perches, but the frontage to Takapuna beach was preserved. That auction was unsuccessful and in April 1945 the company managing the rentals, Richard Arthur Ltd., was sold to a Wellington-based company.
On 7 November 1946, the Arthur and Winstone families sold the flats and surrounding land to Francis and Dorothy Grey (who were brother and sister living in St Heliers). Francis was a farmer while Dorothy was a school teacher. Francis died in 1966, while Dorothy died in 1983. On their deaths, the Guardian Trust became the full trustee for the flats and land.
In 1984, the building and land were sold to developer Robert (Bob) Arnard James Green (1934-2015). The building was later sold to The Coach House Trust in 1996, moved in seven pieces to Barrys Point Reserve and re-assembled in 1997. It opened as Lake House Arts Centre in 2000.
david.verran@xtra.co.nz
