121-Year-Old Villa Extended for a Billiard Table

A billiard table was once so valuable that a sea captain accepted it as payment for his wages, then renovated his entire house to make it fit.

The story belongs to No. 153 St Andrews Road in Auckland, a grand villa built in 1905 that has sheltered just four families across 121 years. Margaret Robins, who has lived there for 29 years, discovered the delightful tale while researching the home's previous owners.

Captain Francis, a seafarer who bought the property in 1908, ran into financial trouble with his shipping company employer. When the company couldn't afford his wages, they offered him a billiard table instead.

The captain accepted, and the table was delivered and installed in the lounge. But there was one problem: the room was too narrow for players to swing their cues properly.

His solution was charmingly simple. He brought in builders to extend the lounge out over the deck, creating just enough space for a proper game.

That unusual extension remains today, a testament to creative problem solving and the era when billiard tables were prized possessions worth renovating for.

Sunny's Take

Margaret fell in love with the villa at first sight in 1997, drawn by its commanding presence and long hallway. She raised her daughter there, welcomed grandchildren, and hosted countless musical jam sessions with friends playing guitar and spoons.

The 186-square-meter home still features soaring ceilings, stained glass windows, original brass locks, and an old fireplace. Helen Rassie, Captain Francis's daughter, would visit Margaret to share memories, including the billiard table story that became the home's most charming secret.

One family, the Crawfords, lived there for an astonishing 88 years. John Crawford spent nearly his entire life within those walls before passing in 1993.

Now Margaret, approaching 70 and caring for her 93-year-old mother, is preparing to pass the keys to the villa's fifth family. She has already bought a cottage around the corner, staying close to the neighborhood she loves.

The house that Captain Francis extended for a game of billiards continues to evolve while honoring its past, proving that the best homes adapt to life's quirks while keeping their soul intact.