Hamilton, Brisbane: Neighbourhood war breaks out on millionaires’ row over wealthy couple’s plans to extend $7.3million palatial mansion
A city’s millionaires’ struggle has been divided by controversial building plans that could block the river views of some of its wealthiest citizens.
Event management company owner Liza Gay and her husband Geoff, the former owner of Staging Connections, filed an official complaint with Brisbane City Council last month about their neighbors in Hamilton.
The couple claim the Eldernell Terrace home of Michael John Cleary and his wife Mary Jo will be ‘much higher in overall height’ if their renovation plans are approved.
The Clearys plan to remove some of the house’s floor-to-ceiling glass panels and replace them with fiber cement panels. Courier mail reports.
Some of Australia’s wealthiest citizens are at war over the proposed renovation of 38 Eldernell Terrace (pictured) on Brisbane’s Millionaires’ Row
Proposed renovations to the house (center) would see the transparent paneling replaced with opaque materials that could block their millionaire neighbors’ view of the Brisbane River
They also want to replace some glass balustrades with steel and add “new steel canopies with a solid roof and operable side screens” on one level.
The switch from glass to opaque materials could obscure their neighbors’ view of the Brisbane River.
Mr and Mrs Gay claim the work, if approved, will make the house ‘overbearing’.
“We request that you place a ‘stop work order’ on the site until the application has gone through the proper process,” they wrote to the council.
Mr. and Mrs. Cleary purchased the home in April 2023 for $7.3 million. The house itself was only built in 2019.
Michael John and Mary Jo Cleary purchased 38 Eldernell Terrace (pictured) for $7.3 million just under a year ago in April 2023
The house at 38 Eldernell Terrace was built in 2019, but neighbors are concerned the renovation could set ‘a worrying precedent’
Another neighbor – Cru Bar co-owner in James St, Melanie Wing – has also objected to the proposed renovations.
“The proposed development does not warrant permission and should be refused in its current form,” wrote Ms Wing, who lives in a 1930s house a few doors down from the Clearys.
“Supporting a building height of more than 30 feet above the natural ground sets a concerning precedent.”