Comedian Andy Lee has shared an update on his ambitious $5million mansion renovation.
The funnyman, 42, and his fiancée, Rebecca Harding, 34, are restoring a 150-year-old derelict mansion by the river in Hawthorn, Melbourne.
The couple are dropping a whopping $5milllion on bringing the palatial home back to its former glory.
Andy and Rebecca have grand plans for their Italianate manor (known as Ravenswood), with the planned renovation worth an estimated $5 million having begun last year.
The comedian has been hard at work on the derelict Melbourne mansion he bought in 2021 in a The Block-style rebuild.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Andy revealed there was still a lot of work to be done as they had recently discovered water damage.
He shared a photo that showed an expansive section of the abode that had to be gutted due to damaged floorboards.
‘Immense water damaged has rotted all the floorboards so they had to come out. Huge laminated timber struts support the ceiling in meantime,’ Andy explained.
Comedian Andy Lee has shared an update on his ambitious $5million mansion renovation with fiancée Rebecca Harding
He joked they were considering not replacing the upper floorboards so that his pooch Henri would have room to grow.
‘There has been some suggestion that our dog Henri (the tall terrier) may eventually grow taller than a giraffe,’ he joked.
‘As a precaution, we may just leave the ceiling heights at the current 8.5m. Hopefully, that’s enough for her.’
He also shared a series of photos that showed a big excavation happening at the property exterior.
Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Andy revealed there was still a lot of work to be done as they had recently discovered water damage
‘Immense water damaged has rotted all the floorboards so they had to come out. Huge laminated timber struts support the ceiling in meantime,’ Andy explained
One photo showed Andy and Bec posing proudly atop a pile of rubble with their arms around each other.
Can you dig it? Yes We Can,’ he boasted in a not-so-subtle nod to Bob The Builder.
Well, Bec and I didn’t dig it but the experts did and we are just under halfway down our basement drop.’
He continued: ‘The property falls away so steeply so it’s a 7.7m drop initially that will start to catch itself as you move towards the Yarra.’
‘If we keep digging, I’m told we’ll find a golf simulator buried somewhere under there. Must be nice.’
Another photo showed Andy and Rebecca posing proudly atop a pile of rubble with their arms around each other
Can you dig it? Yes We Can,’ he boasted in a not-so-subtle nod to Bob The Builder
Andy and Rebecca won council approval for their development application back in June last year.
Plans for the site include adding a second building which will be connected by a tunnel to the original Italianate mansion, which was built around 1876.
Other highlights planned for the 1950square metre holding include a home theatre, a gym, a swimming pool and a ‘mega bedroom’.
In a statement to the Herald Sun, Boroondara Council confirmed it had issued a notice of decision to grant a planning permit for the Yarra Grove address.
Andy and Rebecca won council approval for their development application back in June last year
Plans for the site include adding a second building which will be connected by a tunnel to the original Italianate mansion, which was built around 1876