Governors Bay residents are hoping to purchase the house formerly owned by beloved author Margaret Mahy.

Mahy lived in the house, at 23 Merlincote Crescent in Governors Bay since the late 1960s, up until her death in 2012.

The much-loved author wrote more than 100 picture books, 40 novels, and 20 collections of short stories.

Governors Bay resident Morrin Rout told Chris Lynch she knew Margaret for over 40 years.

“Word got out last week that the house was going to be put up for sale, so a group of us quickly got together and made contact with the family member who owns it, who was in support of the idea.”

The former director of the Christchurch Writers’ Festival and founder of Christchurch’s Hagley Writers’ Institute is hoping they’ll be able to raise enough money to buy the house and turn it into a community facility and local attraction.

Morrin said the real estate agent involved is a local and someone she has known for years which she is hoping will work in her favour.

In an advertisement promoting the sale, it reads “rather special and uniquely developed over time, this is a home that lends itself to reflection, creativity and sociability.”

“A house that was designed with specific requirements in mind, which has then stood the test of time and longevity as this is the first time this exciting property has ever been offered to the market.”

The property has a rateable value of $640,000.

Morrin was confident donations would come from overseas, given Mahy was awarded the highest international recognition for an author and an illustrator of children’s books, the Hans Christian Andersen Award.