Le Fanu House

Le Fanu House is a limestone house on 1492 sq m in Salvado Street in the Perth western suburb of Cottesloe, Western Australia. It was built c1893, and is regarded as an example of fine architecture, but is now a near-ruin.

Description

According to Aussie Heritage, the House was originally known as Banksia, and was built as the private residence of Henry Diggins Holmes and his wife Marion. "Large residence of dressed limestone, now roofed in asbestos. Gables on all four sides have Tudor details. On south-east is a bay window with conical turret topped with elegant finial. Surrounding verandahs supported on simple square timber posts. Garden enclosed by limestone wall. There is a lower floor on north side." The House is described as being in Federation Style, with a Queen Anne turret, in an otherwise Romanesque form. It was sold in 1945 to the Church of England and named after then-archbishop of Perth Henry Frewen Le Fanu. It became a private residence in 1973.

Present state

A story in Post Newspapers in January 2008 described the House as "crumbling into ruins". The 17-room house "...is probably the most expensive chunk of real estate in Cottesloe - but it has serious complications," the story said. "It has the highest possible heritage listing - and presents an expensive challenge for any new owner because it cannot be demolished." The House has an asbestos roof, rotten roof timbers, crumbling bricks and collapsing limestone walls.

Ownership and sale

As at August 2008 the House was for sale, for a reputed asking price of $10 million. It is owned by Frankie Drake-Brockman.

References

http://www.aussieheritage.com.au/listings/wa/Cottesloe/LeFanuHouse/20805

http://www.postnewspapers.com.au/20080105/news/002.shtml