It may be the time of year to spread holiday cheer, but one of Australia’s most-loved comedians and podcasters has managed to get on the nerves of his neighbours.
Andy Lee, best known for being one-half of Hamish and Andy, he has managed to annoy his neighbours because of huge ongoing renovation job.
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In 2021, the now 43-year old purchased a $8m derelict mansion with his partner Rebecca Harding, the co-founder of the razor body brand LuiBody, and at the time it had sat idle for more than a decade, and had no running water or electricity.
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They bought the property a few years ago. Picture: Instagram/ thebuild_ravenswood
Progress on the build continues rain, hail or shine.. Picture: Instagram/thebuild_Ravenwood
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Since then, Lee and Harding had their bold $5m plans approved by Boroondara Council, and have been keeping people updated on their ongoing renovations on their Hawthorn manor.
From mounds of dirt, to exposed beams, and cranes, their home has become a loud construction site, and the inside has be virtually gutted.
The couple have gotten so serious about the rebuild that they’ve created an Instagram page to update fans on the job.
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Andy Lee gets up close and personal with the renovation. Picture: Instagram/thebuild_ravenswood
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.
At some point, even cricketer Pat Cummins is featured when visiting the construction site.
Randomly Pat Cummins came to visit Andy Lee on the site. Picture: Instagram/ thebuild_ravenswood
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The Build Ravenswood has more than 177,000 followers on the social media platform,
featuring progress photos of everything from the pool they are building to progress videos of a custom underground tunnel, which will connect their old house to their new house they’re building.
“It has become apparent that we’ve had to unbuild the house in order to rebuild the house,” one caption explains.
The job site has multiple cranes and works going on. Picture: Instagram/thebuild_Ravenwood
Explaining the process in 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.
That kind of renovation certainly isn’t going to be faint of heart, and neighbours have shared their pains at the ongoing renovation, which has been taking months.
News.com.au reported that neighbours are close to breaking point over the never-ending renovations.
The old home and the new home will have a tunnel connecting them.. Picture: Instagram/thebuild_ravenswood
A few even shared their grievances, and they didn’t hold back.
One called the noise “horrendous” and another claimed Mr Lee lost the “community goodwill” because the disturbance was so relentless.
“Some residents just leave – they go away for a week at a time and come back on the weekend,” one said.
A spokeswoman for the couple said that “overwhelming majority of the neighbours have been amazing and patient”.
The cute couple have been sharing their journey online, but not all the locals are thrilled about it. Picture: Instagram/ thebuild_ravenswood
“Andy and Bec are very mindful of their neighbours, and we continue to discuss ways to minimise the impact the build has on their lives.”
Other features expected to be part of the sprawling riverside property in addition of a second dwelling are a golf simulator, luxury pool, theatre, gym, bar, cellar, large outdoor dining and entertainment terrace, as well as a 22 sqm “waiting area”.
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