The 120-year-old Lamb House in Kangaroo Point is set to be restored, thanks to owners Steve and Jane Wilson, who want to restore the home to its former glory as a way of honouring its heritage.
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When Steve and Jane Wilson first saw the property in 2021, it was almost falling apart. The heritage-listed, riverside mansion was badly dilapidated after being left unoccupied since 2015.
The couple, both heritage property enthusiasts, acquired the mansion at a staggering $12.75 million in 2021. They consulted expert consultants to revive the property and are willing to spend around $15 million for its transformation.
The Wilsons also own two houses in Highgate Hill and another property on the Sunshine Coast but are eager to make the Kangaroo Point mansion their primary residence.
The couple is planning to incorporate modern touches to the mansion, such as air-conditioning systems but they want to keep its core structure as much as possible.
The challenge, however, is looking for the same materials that can be used to replicate the original material used, such as the timber and stained glass windows.
Despite the challenges that come with transforming the deteriorating home, there have already been improvements so far. The twin levels of the verandah are already equipped with new bearers and flooring timbers whilst the damaged roof tiles will soon be replaced with new ones.
The distinctive ceiling turret, one of the dominant features of the mansion, is currently being restructured.
The ground floor verandah now has floor joists and flooring whilst the top-floor verandah is currently being rebuilt. The existing floor will also be replaced with new polished floorboards whilst the doors and windows will all be replaced in working order.
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About the Lamb House
The historic mansion has been a Brisbane landmark since the 1900s. Located at 9 Leopard St, Lamb House is a heritage-listed villa designed by Alexander Brown Wilson and built in 1902 for businessman John Lamb.
The Lamb family business – known both as Edwards and Lambs and simply Lamb’s – operated successfully into the mid-20th century.
When John Lamb died in 1920, he passed the business to his two sons, John and Frank, and the house to his widow, Sarah. The Lamb children who did not marry continued to live in the house with their mother.
Fondly called ‘Home,’ the 3,146-sqm mansion was owned by the Lamb family until 2021, when Brisbane City Council put the house on the market for bidding over unpaid rates.