Five levels, and it’s game on for a fresh adventure for Peter Hawes

With views that only Clem Jones could build, Peter Hawes’ landmark home in Hawthorne is steeped in local history.

Peter Hawes in his Hawthorne home, which was built by entrepreneur James Penny and has been completely renovated. Picture: Glenn Hunt

The idea of living in the same home for more than 40 years may not appeal to everyone, especially not to Peter Hawes.

The Brisbane-based doctor, Australian representative athlete and board game designer has lived at his Hawthorne address on the edge of the city’s namesake river for the past 20 years but has decided it is time for a change — despite completely renovating the trophy home recently.

The 64-year-old moved into the house in 2000 but now is deciding whether to swap the river for some land.

“I love the house, it is everything I’ve worked towards,” Hawes says. “I realise I could never replace it but I just think it’s time for a change.”

Although the house is almost entirely new, the property is steeped in local history.

The site at Virginia Avenue originally was owned by Brisbane’s longest serving lord mayor, Clem Jones.

Prestigious ownership came with its benefits, allowing the address to be zoned with clearance for an additional level to create uninterrupted views of the river.

The main bedroom features an arched dome and stunning views across the river. Picture: Glenn Hunt

But it wasn’t until 1985, when the land was purchased by flamboyant entrepreneur James Penny, that construction kicked off.

Best known for developing Brisbane’s Park Road entertainment precinct at Milton which features the city’s mini Eiffel Tower, Penny brought in his own commercial design team — which included leading architects and interior designers — to build his dream home. His creativity resulted in the arched dome over the main bedroom of the five-level building, which is clearly recognisable to all passers-by from the opposite side of the river.

Dubbed the Penny House, the address became well known for its parties before the businessman put the property on the market in the mid-1990s and moved to NSW to build his golf course and winery.

While some upgrading was done by Hawes and his wife, Domineka, in the years that followed, it wasn’t until 2018 that the major renovations truly began.

Black-and-white portraits of Hollywood legends line the hallway. Picture: Glenn Hunt

The home’s three living levels were modernised with a sophisticated monochromatic colour palette. All of the living spaces on the entry level including the dining room and kitchen have a view of the water. The Haweses’ black-and-white furniture complement the new brushed European limestone tiles laid throughout to give the space a natural look.

The one hallway on the level is decorated with black-and-white portraits of stars of the silver screen, including Robert Redford, Paul Newman and Steve McQueen. Two of Peter Hawes’s favourite pieces of furniture are the burnt wood and clear resin coffee table and the hall table from Timothy Oulton, each of which weighs more than 50kg.

One of the most enviable rooms in the five-bedroom home is the master suite. The bedroom is connected to an integrated walk-in robe and ensuite via a short, glassed catwalk that overlooks the formal sitting room. The river-facing wall in the ensuite is made up of one-way glass windows that make the most of the views, offering a wonderful evening light show from the shower.

The games room features a corner devoted to board games. Picture: Glenn Hunt

On the bottom level downstairs is the games room. Unlike the rest of the house, it is full of colour. While the usual inclusions — a big couch and television for watching the football, a foosball table, a gym and a newly built wine cellar — are all present, in one corner of the room are shelves upon shelves of board games.

It was an interest Hawes picked up in the 1980s after attending a board game convention in the US.

A couple of years later he went to an international board game convention in Essen, Germany, attended by more than 180,000 people, all seated around tables, playing. This got him thinking: “I could do that.”

In the years since, Hawes has developed several historical themed board games that have been recognised at a world level for their design.

Also in the games room is a framed running suit, which he wore in Sacramento in 2011. Picture: Glenn Hunt

On another wall in the space is a framed green and gold running suit, another nod to Hawes’s accomplishments on the world stage. He wore that suit in 2011 in Sacramento, where he won gold in the men’s Masters for the 800m.

“That was the absolute definition of euphoria and relief,” Hawes says.

While he last competed professionally in 2015 at the Perth Masters, where he also won gold, he is often seen running around the leafy suburbs of Brisbane’s inner east with Domineka, who also has represented Australia in the same race.

Dwight Ferguson of Ray White Ascot is marketing the property. The expressions of interest campaign closes September 24 at 4pm.