Owners claim 160-year-old timber house is rundown and beyond repair

The fate of one of Central Queensland’s grandest old homes is set to be decided in court as the owners appeal a council decision to refuse their application to demolish it.

The owners of one of Central Queensland’s oldest homes, Lis Escop, have appealed a decision by Rockhampton Regional Council to refuse their application to demolish the grand timber house they claim is rundown and beyond repair. Pictured in January 2024.

The owners of one of Central Queensland’s oldest homes, Lis Escop, have appealed a decision by Rockhampton Regional Council to refuse their application to demolish the grand timber house they claim is rundown and beyond repair.

John and Susan Sparrow, who paid $1.25m for the 160-year-old home in 2022, lodged the appeal in the Planning and Environment Court last year following council’s refusal on October 8 to allow its demolition followed by construction of a new house on the land at 12 Athelstane St, The Range.

An historical photo of Lis Escop at 12 Athelstane St.

The Sparrow’s claim their application should be approved on the following grounds:

• The house and chapel are structurally unsound and incapable of repair.
• The house and chapel do not contribute to the residential or traditional character of Athelstane St.
• Demolition and removal of the house and chapel will not detract from the amenity of the street.
• The application complies with applicable benchmarks in the city’s Planning Scheme.

In council’s October 8 decision, a planning officer who recommended the house demolition be refused, said it was located in an area of the city protected by the council’s Character Overlay Code.

“The existing dwelling and chapel contribute positively to the character of the surrounding urban area in Athelstane Street,” she said in her report.

“The demolition of this dwelling (and chapel) would significantly undermine the traditional character and amenity of the street (in the up-market The Range suburb).”

Rockhampton Regional Council decided 12 Athelstane St, The Range cannot be demolished because of its heritage.

The officer said the Sparrow’s had not provided evidence to prove the house was beyond repair and structurally unsound.

Mr and Mrs Sparrow claim in their appeal notice that any positive contribution the house made to the character of the area was lost when the land on which it stands was subdivided and redeveloped.

The Sparrow’s demolition application to council listed estimated costs of $236,000 for minimum repair works (including restumping and levelling) and $590,000 for more extensive repairs for use as a residential dwelling.

One of the large rooms at 12 Athelstane St, The Range.

The property, named ‘Lis Escop’, became the home of the first Bishop for the Anglican Diocese of Rockhampton, Bishop Dawes, who was elected in 1892 and was formerly the Assistant Bishop of Brisbane. The chapel was built onto the property after 1909.

Fondly referred to as ‘The Bishop’s House’, the beautiful Queenslander was built in 1864.

The land had been purchased for £2,000.

The Bishop’s Chapel was built in two parts, the first part was built when the Diocese acquired the property and the extension was added in Bishop Halford’s time, after 1909.

For a long time, there was only one other house in Athelstane Street besides ‘Lis Escop’.

It was said to be the headquarters to General Eichelberger during World War II.

The house was occupied by the first Supreme Court Justice for the Central Court, Virgil Power, and his wife and nine children.

Originally published as Owners claim 160-year-old timber house is rundown and beyond repair