Property developer backs historic house’s protection

“We did that work 2½ years ago,” he said.

Mr Seymour said his original intention was to acquire Lamb House, restore it to its original condition, then either sell it to a private buyer as a “pay-for entry” historical home, or offer it in some way to Brisbane City Council and the state government.

“That was our plan. Our plan was to either restore it as a historic [property] for someone to live in, or offer it to council and the government as a heritage precinct, which they could charge admission to the public to inspect.”

Mr Seymour said Lamb House’s architecture and history genuinely warranted protection as part of Brisbane’s story.

“The more you look at it, the more important that house is,” he said.

“If you want to learn about the history of the state, that would be the place to start.”

Mr Seymour said he had not made a second offer to the Lamb family buy the home.

“No, I haven’t, and all I wanted to do was protect the property,” he said.

The developer, who has built many major developments in south-east Queensland, said he wanted the restoration of Lamb House to be his family’s legacy to the people of Brisbane after a 55-year property development career.

“I have looked throughout Brisbane being a developer and there is no other house in Brisbane that I would want to save for the history of Brisbane than the Lamb House,” he said.

“It is the greatest example of the city’s history; it is a grand house – built on a grand scale – and it is on a beautiful block of land overlooking the city.”

He said preserving the home was essential to the story of Brisbane’s history.