Final battle looms in Brisbane rates war

Brisbane City Council will take possession of one of the city’s most historic homes after a years-long battle over unpaid rates.

The Lamb House at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane. Picture: AAP

Brisbane City Council will take possession of one of the city’s most historic homes after a years-long battle over unpaid rates.

The owners of the once-grand federation property at inner-city suburb Kangaroo Point called Home — but more commonly referred to as The Lamb House — will be issued with an intention to sell notice by the council at close of business on Wednesday if payment for three years of rates isn’t made.

Built in the early 1900s, the home has remained in the Lamb family for more than a century.

Initially built for local businessman John Lamb, it has been passed down over generations, with the deed currently belonging to Joy Lamb.

Ms Lamb no longer lives in the property, which has become uninhabitable after years of disuse. Water damage has caused parts of the roof to cave in, graffiti mars the walls and old furniture and clutter is strewn throughout.

It is not simply a financial issue. A stoush between Ms Lamb and the local council began several years ago with the building approval of a mansion built into the cliff in front of the property.

Ms Lamb opposed the proposed property at 1 Leopard Street, Kangaroo Point, currently holding the title as the city’s most expensive home, as it obscured the view of her family home from the CBD and riverfront.

While the council will start the ball rolling on sale of the property on Wednesday if no payment is received, Ms Lamb will have until auction day to rectify her ­accounts, which likely will not be until mid-January 2021.

A Brisbane City Council spokesman said he could not confirm how much was owing on any one property.

A friend of Ms Lamb said she had no intention of selling the property, adding that an apology from mayor Adrian Schrinner was all that was needed for the saga to be forgotten.

The property is heritage protected on both a state and local government level, dashing the hopes of developers who were eyeing the site.

The problematic luxury mansion at 1 Leopard Street sold for $18.84m to Chinese buyers in 2017.

The home was listed again in 2019, and a deal was struck in February with local buyers for $18m.