After a painstaking three-year renovation odyssey, Lamb House, one of Kangaroo Point’s most iconic heritage homes has finally emerged from its transformation, reborn as “Home.”
Read: Lamb House Set to Return To Its Former Glory
The extensive restoration of the 19th century residence is now complete after new owners Steve and Jane Wilson took on the massive project to revive the property they purchased in 2021.
Located at 9 Leopard Street, the residence was initially constructed in 1901 for John Lamb, who jointly owned the prosperous drapery business Edwards & Lamb located on Queen Street. It was designed by renowned Queensland architect Alexander Brown Wilson. Many of his works are also listed on the state’s heritage register.
The Wilsons purchased the rundown property with dreams of restoring it to its former glory. The journey began with emergency stabilisation work to secure the crumbling site. Extensive roof repairs followed, with the home surviving a flood event in the midst of re-tiling. But that was just the start of the multi-million dollar renovation saga.
According to lead architect James Davidson of JDA Co, the property was in such a dilapidated state during the early renovation stages that it seemed to be crumbling around them as they worked.
Undeterred, the project team pressed on, structurally repairing and restoring original features like the roof, verandah, facade and interior elements.
home_kangaroopoint/Instagram)
Contemporary additions were constructed to modernise the living spaces, whilst landscaping refreshed the grounds. Beyond basic repairs, the house required reinstatement of its architectural fabric.
When the Wilsons first embarked on the renovation, they projected the costs would be around $15 million. Whilst they declined to disclose the final price tag, they acknowledged that the total expenses exceeded their original estimate, with building costs having risen substantially in recent years.
Read: Lamb House Sold to Racing Queensland’s Steve and Jane Wilson
After three years of perseverance, the monumental renovation is finally complete. The Wilsons’ extreme home makeover will be showcased on an upcoming episode of ABC’s Renovation Australia in May 2024. The public can follow the home’s Instagram (@home_kangaroopoint) for ongoing updates about this historic revival.
Published 24-April-2024