Man Built His Own 1970s Beach Home—Now It Needs New Love

When Ron Lacy bought a slice of Pauanui beachfront in 1972, he did something remarkable: he built his dream holiday home entirely by himself, despite never having constructed anything before.

The Auckland man spent months carefully raising the three-bedroom house at 15 Sheppard Ave in Coromandel, with only occasional help from family members like his brother Dave, who pitched in on the stairs. The result was a unique riverside retreat that would host generations of family Christmases and summer getaways.

More than 50 years later, the home remains virtually untouched. The vintage wallpaper, original fixtures, and 1970s design features have been lovingly preserved, creating what real estate agents are calling a perfect mid-century time capsule.

"He used to just hop in his car and drive down and spend a week there," says Margaret Lacy, Ron's sister-in-law. Ron never rented the property, keeping it solely for family use and personal retreats from daily life.

The home sits perfectly positioned with panoramic estuary views from its upstairs living areas and bedrooms. A path directly across the street leads to the riverside beach, while a boat ramp at the end of the street makes it ideal for water lovers.

Now Ron can't make the trip as often as he'd like, so he's made the difficult decision to sell. His nieces wish they could keep it in the family, but they understand it's time for someone new to love the home their uncle built.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story special isn't just the pristine preservation of 1970s design. It's the care Ron showed in building every wall and laying every floor himself, then maintaining it for five decades without commercializing it or changing its character.

The family knows a buyer might demolish the house for something bigger. But neighbors already stop by asking about its future, showing the home has become a beloved landmark in the community.

Margaret and her daughters hope someone will see what they see: a labor of love built by hand, filled with memories, and ready for its next chapter. "It is unique," Margaret says simply, "and it would be good to see it preserved."

Someone out there is looking for exactly this: a piece of New Zealand history built with dedication, preserved with care, and ready to create new memories for another family who appreciates craftsmanship and character over modern flash.