Andy Lee and Rebecca Harding’s crumbling Hawthorn manor, Ravenswood takes shape

A significant milestone at Andy Lee’s mammoth $5 million renovation of a rundown Hawthorn manor he bought with fiancée Rebecca Harding in 2021 has been reached, with the tunnelling of an underground tunnel connecting the old and new complete.

Andy took to social media recently to share footage of the landmark achievement, showing how a final rock underneath the beams of the old manor was successfully removed and noted his relief that a quarter of the residence did not collapse into the pit below.

Explaining the process last month, Andy posted a video detailing the “tunnel excavation,” where he discussed how a new spiral staircase to level one in the old house extended to the tunnel of the new build, while “bad boy” steel beams on a temporary concrete pile took the whole weight of a quarter of the house to make way for the tunnel.

The comedian and TV host, and his now fiancé, purchased the $8 million neglected manor, which sits on a 950sqm landholding on the Yarra River in 2021, and at the time of purchase it had sat idle for more than a decade, and had no running water or electricity.

Located in the Rookery Estate Precinct, two-storey residence, known as Ravenswood, overlooks Burnley Park, and features eight rooms, high ceilings and arched hallways.

The popular TV and radio host, who is best known as one-half of comedy duo Hamish & Andy, was given permission by Boroondara Council last year to build a $5 million residence.

The couple’s plans to create a sprawling riverside property include the addition of a second dwelling, a golf simulator, a pool, theatre, gym, bar, cellar, large outdoor dining and entertainment terrace, as well as a 22.7sqm “waiting area”.

The couple have enlisted David Flack and Richie Blight of acclaimed architectural firm, Flack Studio as the design team in charge of bringing Ravenswood back to life.

Their builder is award winning Richmond based Visioneer Builders.

Early in October marked two years remaining on the build, and the couple explained their trees had to be planted to allow time for them to grow,  and because back garden access would soon be blocked.

They went tree shopping and shared their selections – a 15-year-old, 8 metre tall Scarlett Oak for the front of the home, Jacarandas for the entire block as well as Ficus trees to line the rear of the property by the river.

Four of the trees have made their way from the Yarra Valley to the residence, transported on site via a crane.

The property’s sprawling pool is also underway with Andy also sharing that he was keen to ensure waste from the entire rebuild project has been minimised and materials have been sorted for reuse and recycling.

He shared that 90% of site waste had so far been recovered.