A neighbour of the late Sir Edmund Hillary has admitted to being the purchaser of his Remuera property and says he wants to use it to extend his garden.
Sky Television co-founder Terry Jarvis initially denied being the one who paid $1.9 million for the home when it was auctioned in March.
However, he has since admitted to the Herald on Sunday he was the buyer and that he and Auckland agent Graham Wall are in discussions with Auckland Museum and mountaineer Graeme Dingle about what to do with the 1950s house on the property.
Discussions involve potentially relocating the house, although that was likely to be logistically difficult and expensive.
The home had been offered to the Hillary family for relocation, but they had not taken the offer up.
"The house really doesn't have many redeeming features that were worth saving, except the study where Sir Ed did most of his work and a couple of other small areas," Mr Jarvis said.
He said he had hoped to keep the purchase private, but had bought the home as he was nervous about the potential effect on his property of someone else buying it and building on the site.
While the house could face demolition, there were no plans to develop the section beyond extending his own property.
"I think we will turn it into a garden probably. I have no plans to subdivide it or do anything like that."
Mr Jarvis said he was waiting to hear back about the relocation suggestion.
