Brisbane City Council votes to protect Lamb House from development

A historic Brisbane homestead’s grounds will be protected for two years from infill development after the council unanimously voted in emergency measures for the site.

Lamb House on Kangaroo Point. Picture: AAP/Richard Waugh

EMERGENCY planning measures to protect one of Brisbane’s most historic homesteads from infill development has been unanimously supported by the city’s councillors.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner introduced a temporary local planning instrument (TLPI) on Lamb House and the eight lots that make up its 3000 sqm grounds at Kangaroo Point.

Essentially, the TLPI only allows one dwelling on the site — the State Heritage listed but abandoned and deeply deteriorated mansion.

The chimney at Lamb House on Kangaroo Point. Picture: AAP/Richard Waugh

The four lots of the grounds that front Wild St are zoned low-medium density residential up to three storeys.

Cr Schrinner said there was consent caveat on the land, a statutory injunction to protect the interests of someone who is not the owner had been placed over the site.

Brisbane City Council has voted to put emergency temporary planning protections on Lamb House at Kangaroo Point. Picture: AAP/Richard Waugh

He said while the house was state heritage listed, the council believed there was a risk of infill development, and the consent caveat led council to believe it was urgent that the house be protected.

The TLPI will protect the site for two years.

“I have discussed this TLPI with the deputy premier, she is aware it is coming and is supportive of our proposal putting this forward,” he said.

“We appear to have the strong support of the state government in taking this action.”

Opposition leader Peter Cumming was brief and to the point in his debate, uttering just four words: “We support this matter”.

The roof of Lamb House at Kangaroo Point. Picture: AAP/Richard Waugh

Local representative Greens Cr Jonathan Sri (The Gabba) said this temporary protection did not address the long-term problem of the house being left to rot and deteriorate.

He added he was “not entirely opposed to a few granny flats in the backyard”.

“It really is going to need council and state government intervention if we are going to protect this property,” he said.

“I can imagine it working quite well as a community centre, a visitor information centre.”

City Planning chairman Matthew Bourke said that it was Cr Schrinner’s plan to aquire the land.

“The Lord Mayor said that publicly, that he will work with the state to bring this into public ownership,” he said.