Two charities will benefit from the sale of an original 1940's bungalow featuring native timber floors and open timber beams on a 683 square metre section in Greenlane.

The Woodbine Avenue home belongs to the estate of Jennifer French who requested before her death that the net proceeds of the sale be divided equally between the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) and The Brain Injury Association of New Zealand.

Tina Wilson of Wilson McKay, the solicitors handling the estate, says Miss French was a very private person who lived alone with two large cats for company.

Both charities were surprised by the generous gesture because Jennifer French was not known to them as a donor. Geoff Warne, CFO with the RNZFB, says the organisation was delighted by the generous bequest.

"We have to raise $15 million per year to provide essential services for our 11,500 members, and this year as usual it's proving challenging. This will go some way towards meeting our goals."

Harley Pope of the Brain Injury Association says the money will go a long way to helping provide its services: "We are so grateful. This is like money from heaven. There are in excess of 55 people per week in New Zealand suffering a brain injury, and money like this will do wonderful things in giving support to our members and their families."

The property is being marketed by Bayleys Remuera. Bayleys Realty Group is the principal sponsor of RNZFB's Guide Dog Services.

Bayleys' John Lantz says the house has been well built with a solid weatherboard construction and will benefit from a make-over by a new owner or, alternatively, the existing dwelling could be replaced with a new home.

He says the house has a spacious kitchen and living area featuring popular Tudor style wooden beams and white panels, heart matai floorboards and the original fireplace.

Clearlite Bathrooms has also got involved in the project and will be donating a toilet, basin and pedestal – or a vanity – and a bath complete with shower to enable the bathroom to be completely refurbished.

"When we heard that the proceeds from the sale of the house were going to two very worthy charities, we were keen to do what we could to help achieve the best possible sale price for them," says Clearlite's sales and marketing manager Sarah Roberts.

Hills Flooring have also donated $1,000 worth of flooring materials, and Resene have donated $500 worth of paint vouchers and a starter pack.

Mr Lantz says Woodbine Avenue is in a popular area within the Cornwall Park Primary and Remuera Intermediate school zones because it is close to the motorway, the racecourse and the city.

"It would be a great home for someone wanting to do their own redecorating and landscaping. The section is large enough for a small cricket pitch for the kids or substantial gardens. It isn't always easy to buy properties these days with the full, original sized section still in place."

The Woodbine Avenue home will be auctioned in Bayleys central Auckland auction room on September 7.

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Issued by Bayleys Real Estate and the RNZFB

For further information contact John Lantz on ph. 520 8888 or 027 543 3224 or visit www.bayleys.co.nz (web ref 360196 for photos) or contact Bill Moore at the RNZFB on 0275 508 061