- A West Coast nurse sold his “last resort hotel” after reducing the price to $78,000.
- The bach on leasehold land attracted significant interest despite its restrictions and $5000 annual land rent.
- John Tritt owned the property for over 30 years, using it as a personal retreat.
A West Coast nurse has finally sold his “last resort hotel” after slashing the asking price to $78,000.
Start your property search
The basic bach, which had been John Tritt’s bolthole for more than 30 years, was snapped up by an out-of-town buyer who plans to live in it.
The leasehold property on Snodgrass Road, in Westport, was originally listed for $97,000 before dropping $19,000 in price. The exact sale price cannot be disclosed until settlement.
The bach was on the market for sale for the first time in more than 30 years. Photo / Supplied
The property has been insulated and has a multi-burner. Photo / Supplied
Property Brokers agent Jo Maketu said the affordable price and private location, just metres from the river, had been huge drawcards, with the new owner particularly sold on those aspects.
“A lot of people can’t afford a house, but at $78,000, it was within budget. It is just a lovely little spot.”
The price tag was low because the property was sold with a few hooks. Without them, the sale price would have been much higher, Maketu said.
The bach was on 1776sqm of leasehold land owned by the Buller District Council, restricting the buyer pool to cash buyers, Maketu said, adding that there is a 25-year licence to occupy that runs through until September 2045, with the land rent about $5000 a year.
- Out-of-town buyers hot for deceased estate with $235,000 price tag
- Historic mansion for sale after overseas owner abandons renovation
- 'Bit of a pickle': Council twist turns bach into $400K shed
Despite the drawbacks, the property still attracted a lot of buyer interest. “My phone just kept ringing, and I actually have about 35 people on a list who wanted me to contact them if this offer didn’t go ahead. I knew it was going to sell eventually.”
Tritt told OneRoof in April that he had bought the property some 30 years ago for $22,000 after finding some extra money in his back pocket. He was going to use it to buy a car but then he stumbled across the classic bach.
Tritt said it was probably the best decision he had ever made, telling OneRoof that the bach had been his rock through a lot of ups and downs.
The large lawn and estuary access make it a great place for playing backyard cricket and whitebaiting. Photo / Supplied
“I was going to buy a new car, but I’m glad I didn’t, as that would have been long gone,” he said.
“I always call it the last resort hotel. If everything goes wrong or I have a bust-up or whatever, or if I went to Aussie and had a few jobs in the desert, as I’m a nurse, it’s always a place I can come back to – no matter what happens.”
His three children have enjoyed school holidays at the bach over the years, playing cricket and hanging out in the estuary. More recently, Tritt has spent hours in his wetsuit whitebaiting in the Orowaiti River, which can be accessed from a bamboo tunnel leading from property. “It’s been a great ‘memory lane’ place.”
Tritt didn’t know the exact origins of the cottage, but believes it was relocated onto the 1776sqm site from the historic mining town of Denniston.
“To me, it’s almost a historic building. It’s still got the cupboards where you stored your meat. Everything is authentic,” he told OneRoof.
The long drop toilet flooded at some point and had been replaced with a portaloo in an old chook house. “It’s a wee bit out there. But people into backcountry hiking or outdoor people, they don’t seem to mind.”
The self-described gypsy was selling to embark on his next adventure and planned to visit family and friends in New Zealand and Australia.
- Click here to find more properties for sale in Buller
