Comedian Andy Lee has given the public a first glimpse of the plans for a lengthy renovation of a derelict, 150‑year‑old house by Melbourne’s Yarra River, revealing an addition linked to the original building by an underground tunnel.
Lee, 44, posted an Instagram video on Friday explaining the pair’s approach to the project he and his partner, 35, have spent about two years restoring. “A lot of people have been asking what the hell are we doing with this house,” he said in the clip. “That’s a very good question — I’ve wondered that as well. Here is a quick take. The main problem was the back of the house is its front because they used to arrive by the Yarra.”
In the video Lee outlined the proposed remedy: rather than substantially altering the historic facade that faces the river, the plan calls for constructing a second house behind the original structure, with the two connected by an underground passage. He described the design choice as a way to preserve the original orientation and character of the riverside dwelling while accommodating modern living needs.
The property has been described in media reports as derelict when Lee and his partner began work, and the couple have publicly chronicled a protracted restoration process. Lee did not give a completion date in the Instagram clip, and did not disclose budget or contractor details.
Architectural renderings posted alongside the explanation show a modern addition set behind the restored riverfront structure, with landscaping and sightlines that maintain the original building’s prominence from the water. Lee framed the intervention as an effort to respect the house’s 19th‑century arrival pattern — when river access determined how occupants approached the home — while creating a practical entry and living sequence for contemporary use.
Local heritage considerations are often part of renovations of houses of this age along the Yarra, where facades and streetscapes reflect Melbourne’s Victorian and Edwardian-era development. Lee’s decision to retain the original riverside face and add a discreet new build behind it aligns with a common conservation approach that separates a preserved historic shell from a sympathetic modern addition.
Lee’s public update follows months of intermittent social media and press attention to the project, as followers have asked about the visible scaffolding and construction work. The Instagram post gave the most detailed public description to date of how the couple intend to reconcile preservation with extensive renovation.
No formal planning applications or council approvals were cited in Lee’s post, and a representative for Lee did not immediately respond to requests for further details. The renovation remains ongoing, and Lee’s post offered the clearest indication yet of the finished layout and design intent for the riverside property.