Andy Lee and his fiancée Rebecca Harding are restoring a 150-year-old abandoned riverside mansion in Hawthorn, Melbourne.
The couple recently started a planned renovation of the $5 million home they purchased in 2021.
Pictures loaded onto Andy, 42, and Rebecca’s social media show the huge two-storey property is in an advanced state of disrepair.
The damage includes disrepair from leaks, destroyed ceilings, cracked plaster and stripped walls in the grand old building.
In a series of recent Instagram videos, the couple shared a behind-the-scenes look at their renovation project and gave a taste of what’s to come.
Andy Lee and his fiancée Rebecca Harding are restoring a 150-year-old abandoned riverside mansion in Hawthorn, Melbourne. Both shown
The couple recently started a planned renovation of the $5 million home they purchased in 2021
Andy showed off the top floor of the property and revealed plans to demolish the old staircase, which currently blocks the entrance.
When he went to another room, he pointed out a wall that needed to be demolished to create a larger, open space.
He also said that the process involves releasing pigeons and that seaweed was discovered in the roof, an insulation method used 100 years ago.
Meanwhile, Bec’s tour of the ground floor revealed a huge hole in the ceiling, which has caused water damage. In addition, she showed off some of the plants that have grown through the walls of the mansion.
Despite the problems, she noted that they plan to keep the green walls and detailed arches.
The city council gave the couple the green light last June to start the luxury renovation of the abandoned mansion in Melbourne.
Pictures loaded onto Andy and Bec’s social media show the huge two-storey property is in an advanced state of disrepair.
The damage includes disrepair from leaks, destroyed ceilings, cracked plaster and stripped walls in the grand old building
In a series of recent Instagram videos, the couple shared a behind-the-scenes look at their renovation project
Andy said the process involved releasing pigeons and discovering seaweed in the roof, an insulation method used 100 years ago
Bec’s tour of the ground floor revealed a huge hole in the ceiling, which has caused water damage. In addition, she showed off some of the plants that have grown through the walls of the mansion
Andy showed off the top floor of the property and revealed plans to demolish the old staircase, which currently blocks the entrance
Plans for the site include the addition of a second building that will be connected by a tunnel to the original Italianate mansion, which was built around 1876.
Other highlights planned for the 1,950-square-foot property include a home theater, gym, swimming pool and “mega bedroom.”
The dilapidated Italianate country house, built around 1876, sits on a princely plot of 2,000 m² and overlooks the Yarra River.
Historically, the front of the property faces the river as this was the original arrival point for residents.
Bec and Andy revealed that the house was last occupied in 1992.
The previous owners left the property in a sorry state for over a decade after their own renovations stopped for unknown reasons.
The dilapidated Italianate country house, built around 1876, sits on a princely plot of 2,000 m² and overlooks the Yarra River