Le Fanu House facts for kids

Le Fanu House is a big, beautiful single-storey home in Cottesloe, Western Australia. It was built around 1893. This house is a great example of a grand home found near the beach. It is built in the Federation Queen Anne style, which was popular in Australia.

The Story of Le Fanu House

Early Days: Banksia House

Le Fanu House was first known as Banksia. It was built as a family home for Henry Diggins Holmes, his wife Marion, and their three children. Their home was located near the sand dunes of Cottesloe Beach. Henry Holmes became the General Manager of the Bank of Western Australia in 1890.

Changes Over Time

In 1898 and 1900, the house was made bigger. Architect Percy William Harrison designed these changes. In 1945, the house was sold to the Perth Diocesan Trustees. They renamed it Le Fanu House after Henry Le Fanu, who was the Archbishop of Perth at that time. In 1973, the house became a private home again when Mrs. Fenwick bought it.

What Does Le Fanu House Look Like?

Unique Architectural Style

Le Fanu House is a large building made of dressed limestone. It has a roof that was once made of asbestos. The house features gables on all four sides with special Tudor details. On the south-east side, there is a bay window with a round turret. This turret has an elegant decoration on top.

Verandahs and Walls

The house has verandahs all around it. These verandahs are held up by simple square timber posts. A limestone wall surrounds the garden. There is also a lower floor on the north side of the house. The house mixes the Federation style with a Queen Anne turret, giving it a unique look.

Why is Le Fanu House Important?

Protecting History

Le Fanu House is very important because of its history and design. The National Trust of Australia (WA) officially recognized it on May 12, 1975. It was also listed on the Register of the National Estate in 1982. This means it is a special place that should be protected.

Official Heritage Listing

The Town of Cottesloe also added Le Fanu House to its local list of important buildings in 1995. On January 7, 2000, the Heritage Council of Western Australia officially listed it on the State Register of Heritage Places. This is the highest level of heritage protection.

The House Today: A Big Project

Challenges of an Old Home

In 2008, news stories described Le Fanu House as "crumbling into ruins." Even though it was one of the most expensive properties in Cottesloe, it had many problems. The house had an asbestos roof, rotten roof timbers, and crumbling walls. Because of its heritage listing, it could not be torn down. This made it a big challenge for any new owner.

Restoring a Landmark

In August 2008, the house was put up for sale. In September 2010, the Town of Cottesloe approved big plans for the house. The new owners, S. Wyatt and S. Gibson, planned to spend about $6 million to restore it. The goal was to make it a beautiful home again.

Renovation Plans

The renovation plans included removing some parts of the house that were added later. This included four rooms, a verandah, and an old washroom. An underground car park was built where these parts were removed. Important rooms like the ballroom and dining room were restored. The kitchen was partly changed to become a guest suite. A new, separate house was also built behind the original dwelling. Zorzi Builders worked on the project, with help from heritage architects.