Banksia was built as a private residence for Henry Diggins Holmes, his wife Marion and their three children, at the corner of Salvado Road and Marine Parade, close to the dunes of Cottesloe Beach. Holmes was appointed General Manager of the Bank of Western Australia in 1890. In 1898 and 1900, substantial additions and alterations designed by architect Percy William Harrison were undertaken and it was sold in 1945 to the Perth Diocesan Trustees and renamed after then Archbishop of Perth, Henry Frewen Le Fanu. It became a private residence again in 1973, when the property was purchased by Mrs Fenwick.
Architecture
According to Aussie Heritage, the house was originally known as Banksia, and was built as the private residence of Henry Diggins Holmes and his wife Marion. "Large residence of dressed limestone, now roofed in asbestos. Gables on all four sides have Tudor details. On south-east is a bay window with conical turret topped with elegant finial. Surrounding verandahs supported on simple square timber posts. Garden enclosed by limestone wall. There is a lower floor on north side." The house is described as being in Federation Style, with a Queen Anne turret, in an otherwise Romanesque form.
A story in Post Newspapers in January 2008 described the house as "crumbling into ruins". The 17-room house "is probably the most expensive chunk of real estate in Cottesloe – but it has serious complications", the story said. "It has the highest possible heritage listing – and presents an expensive challenge for any new owner because it cannot be demolished." The house had an asbestos roof, rotten roof timbers, crumbling bricks and collapsing limestone walls.
Ownership and sale
In August 2008 the house was listed for sale by the owners, Francis Margaret Drake-Brockman, for a reputed asking price of $10 million. In September 2010 the Town of Cottesloe granted approval for the current owners, S. Wyatt and S. Gibson, to undertake extensive alterations and additions to the 17-room house, at an estimated cost of $6 million, to enable it to be restored for residential use. The proposed renovations include the demolition of four rooms, a northern verandah enclosed after World War II and a post World War II ablution block. The construction of an underground car park beneath the demolition area. The restoration of the ballroom, dining room and study, with the kitchen being partially demolished and adapted as a guest suite. A large self-contained house will be built behind the existing dwelling. The works are being undertaken by Zorzi Builders, under the supervision of heritage architects, Hocking Planning and Architecture.
