Story by Tony Moore Brisbane Times DECEMBER 31, 2021
Before the year is out, 'Home' at Kangaroo Point, the house that came to symbolise the dangers of unfettered development, and the flaws with Queensland’s heritage protection laws, will finally be restored.
'Home', the grand old lady of Brisbane’s past, will take pride of place in the city’s future. It is a very real 120-year-old birthday present - for the house and the community.
During 2020-2021, Home, on the cliffs at Kangaroo Point, was saved from demolition after a series of events saw the heritage-listed property placed on the market.
Brisbane businessman Steve Wilson and his wife Jane, both keen heritage property enthusiasts, bought the original Lamb family property and vowed to make Home their own.
By next New Year’s Eve, their view of the fireworks, down two stretches of the Brisbane River from the mansion’s top floor verandah, will be a special reward for the money they have invested in the two-storey, Federation-style property.
Around the house, built in 1901-1902, restoration tags show where doors and windows - yet to be removed, sanded and painted - will be replaced in working order.
Lamb House was originally built over 12 months from 1901 for Queen Street draper John Lamb in Kangaroo Point, Brisbane’s first “suburb”. The Lamb family called the house Home. How it Happened:
The 118-year-old Queen Anne-styled, red-brick house – which overlooks the central city from Kangaroo Point – was once one of Brisbane’s premier homes, but today in shocking disrepair.
It was placed on the Queensland Heritage Register in October 1992.
In June 2019, property developer Kevin Seymour reportedly offered the Lamb family $12 million to buy the property.
The Lamb family declined to sell.
Prominent Brisbane property developer Kevin Seymour has confirmed he is in the running to buy heritage-listed Lamb House. Mr Seymour at the time said he wanted to “save the house”. He said he did not know if his offer would be high enough — he is planning a costly "pristine" renovation with a modern kitchen and a "wet edge pool" overlooking the city.
A 60-day stop order with a $2.26 million penalty clause was dramatically placed over the ghostly, heritage-listed Lamb House at Kangaroo Point by Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch in June 2020.
"Yesterday I issued a Stop Order under the Queensland Heritage Act preventing any demolition or other unapproved work on the 118-year-old Kangaroo Point residence,” Ms Enoch said. Any work breaching the order now warrants a maximum fine of $2.26 million.
“This action was taken on the same day as the Department of Environment and Science received advice that discussions had occurred with a company regarding demolition of the house.”
Kangaroo Point’s local MP Jackie Trad – the former deputy premier - called on the owner, Joy Lamb, to now dedicate the home to Brisbane City Council to “hold in trust” for Brisbane and Queenslanders.
The dilapidated 119-year-old mansion at Kangaroo Point was on the market after its owner Joy Lamb failed to maintain it and pay more than $300,000 in council rates.
The Public Trustee was handling the sale of the six-bedroom cliff top house which was being marketed by Savills.
Read more:
By Tony Moore DECEMBER 31, 2021
Lamb House, Brisbane's heritage-listed, riverside mansion, sold to Racing Queensland's Steve and Jane Wilson Story by Phoebe Hosier ABC ...
Lamb House dodges demolition for another 60 days Brisbane’s heritage-listed Lamb House is now protected from demolition until November...