Steve and Jane Wilson Archives - Kangaroo Point News

Renovation of Lamb House into ‘Home’ Finally Complete

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.

Reconstructed ‘defining tower’ (Photo credit: home_kangaroopoint/Instagram)

The tower before the renovations (Photo credit: home_kangaroopoint/Instagram)

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.

Photo credit: home_kangaroopoint/Instagram

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.

The owners of ‘Home’ with their project team (Photo credit: home_kangaroopoint/Instagram)

Undeterred, the project team pressed on, structurally repairing and restoring original features like the roof, verandah, facade and interior elements.

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

Lamb House Restoration Nears Completion

Photo Credit: Facebook/JDA Co/@alex_chomicz

After two years of dedicated refurbishment, Jane and Steve Wilson are just months away from moving into the historic Lamb House, their meticulously restored riverside mansion in Kangaroo Point.

Lamb House, a historic federation home with stunning views of the Brisbane River, CBD, and Story Bridge, was originally built circa 1902-1903 for John Lamb, co-proprietor of the esteemed Queen Street store Edwards & Lamb.

When they acquired the house, the Wilsons knew that they had to race against time to save it from further decay. The collapse of the roof exposed the house to the elements, but their passion and determination gave the iconic residence a chance at a new breath of life.

Throughout the restoration process, the Wilsons have displayed an unwavering commitment to preserving Lamb House’s historical charm. From meticulously restoring the red cedar wood, an integral part of the house’s heritage, to replacing stolen lead lights with carefully designed replicas, every detail has been given the utmost attention.

Photo Credit: Facebook/JDA Co/@alex_chomicz

The Wilsons say that they have put their hearts and souls into this undertaking. While adding contemporary accents for a comfortable lifestyle, they have gone above and beyond to preserve the spirit and mission of Lamb House.

A stunning attic room has been added, but the house’s historic elements have been preserved, striking the ideal balance between respecting the past and embracing modern living.

Once complete, Lamb House will once again come alive, connecting Kangaroo Point’s past with its present.

Published 17-June-2023

Lamb House Set to Return To Its Former Glory

Photo credit: Lamb House History/Facebook

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.

Read: Lamb House Sold to Racing Queensland’s Steve and Jane Wilson

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.

Read: 200-Million-Year-Old Tree Stump Unearthed During Cross River Rail Tunnelling At Kangaroo Point

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.

kangaroo-point-mansion — Lamb House, circa 1904 (Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland)

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.

Lamb House Sold to Racing Queensland’s Steve and Jane Wilson

Steve and Jane Wilson, Brisbane Racing power couple, have bought the heritage-listed Lamb House in Kangaroo Point for an undisclosed amount. The couple wants to restore the landmark mansion, listed for the first time in 120 years, to its former glory.

The Wilson pair managed to outbid other prospective buyers of the Lamb House, including prominent property developer Kevin Seymour. The couple has plans to spend at least $15 million more on restoring the dilapidated and vandalised historical site to its former glory and will work to keep the house up-to-date with electrical upgrades and wi-fi connection.

However, former owner Joy Lamb finds the sale unacceptable despite failures to maintain the mansion or to pay over $300,000 in Council rates for three years. This has led to the sale of the house via a Public Trustee so that the heritage site could be protected from demolition or subdivision by developers.

Ms Lamb vacated the Lamb House sometime after the death of her husband in 2013. In a previous interview with other media, the widow has said she believes that their dispute with Council over the Lamb House contributed to her husband’s failing health.

Since the historical house remained empty for a number of years, it became badly damaged and was used by squatters.

Meanwhile, members of the advocacy group Brisbane Residents United said that they are happy the house has been sold to new owners who want the Kangaroo Point landmark to become a restored family home.

The Wilsons said that they are excited to become the stewards of the Lamb house, which belonged to the Lamb family for 118 years. They also said that they will open the house for public events, including fundraisers for good causes, once the restoration has been completed in two to three years.