What’s taking so long? Andy Lee and Rebecca Harding no closer to completing their dream home after almost four years as they add a ‘canine retreat’ for their dog Henri to the build

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It’s shaping up to be one of the biggest residential renovation projects in Melbourne.

Andy Lee and Rebecca Harding are still working on their extensive renovations of their Hawthorn home, Ravenswood, and the project is taking longer than expected.

In 2021, the couple bought the rundown mansion by the Yarra River for $8 million.

In June 2023, they got the green light from the council for their project and quickly began a massive renovation costing around $5 million – a makeover impressive enough to even amaze The Block’s Scott Cam.

Andy and Rebecca have been openly sharing the progress of their build on social media, both on their personal accounts and a dedicated project page called @thebuild_ravenswood.

Neighbors have also taken notice of the enormous job of renovating Ravenswood, which covers a large 1,950 square meters.

A frustrated resident recently told the Daily Mail that the constant noise has been ongoing for a year and is expected to continue for at least two more years, causing significant annoyance.

Someone else was upset about how often the builders were working and asked if Andy was aware of the noise.

They explained that the work begins around 7:15 in the morning and continues until 5:00 PM, six days a week. It’s been constant noise throughout.

Construction has begun, so there’s a lot of noise from hammering, and the workers often play music loudly.

The parking situation was also a problem – it lasted for six days instead of the agreed-upon five, and wasn’t considerate to the neighbors. I doubt Andy Lee realizes how much noise it caused.

So, after four years, why is Andy and Bec’s ambitious rebuild taking so long to complete?

You know, I was chatting with Andy recently, and he shared something really relatable about his project. He hit a snag because he unexpectedly had to build an entirely separate little house behind the main one! It really slowed things down, but it’s something a lot of us DIY-ers encounter – those unforeseen additions that pop up and change the whole plan.

Earlier this month, Andy shared on Instagram what he and Rebecca were hoping to accomplish.

Andy started the video by addressing the question many viewers had: ‘What exactly are we doing with this house?’ He admitted it was a fair question, one he’d been asking himself too.

The house is oriented strangely – the back appears to be the front. This is because people used to arrive at the property by the Yarra River.

He explained the solution: they would build a new house behind the existing one and connect the two with a tunnel underground.

‘We need to preserve that and that’s where you’d normally build off for an extension,’ he said.

The architects came up with a clever plan: they set the new building, called the river house, further back from the original heritage house. This created a piazza – a public space – in between, allowing views of both buildings.

‘They’ve also created a tunnel between the two so it’s connected.’

While speaking, Andy showed images of what the finished building would look like, explaining that it would be covered in copper that, over time, would turn a similar green color to the Statue of Liberty.

It’s also a meticulous attention to detail that is perhaps delaying the project’s completion.

In September, Andy shared updates on their home renovation via Instagram, highlighting a beautifully preserved ship’s porthole – a unique feature that dates back to the house’s history.

One picture shows Andy smiling happily through a big round window at the construction site. Another captures Rebecca laughing and pointing at something being installed.

Honestly, it’s amazing – even their pets get the full Lee-Harding treatment! Everything is just *so* perfect for them, down to the tiniest detail, and it extends to their furry family members too. I just… I notice these things, okay?

Earlier this month, while discussing the long-awaited studio renovation on the Jase & Lauren show, Rebecca mentioned that their dog, Henri, will have all the latest amenities in the new space.

‘Does Henri the dog have her own wing?’ Lauren asked. ‘Because she’s the boss of your house.’

Rebecca shared that while she won’t have a dedicated wing named after her at Henri’s, she’s excited to have her own special dog-friendly space.

‘Well, she doesn’t have a wing,’ she said. ‘She’s got a bedroom.’

Jase Hawkins seemed surprised by the generous gift for the dog and asked for more information.

He exclaimed in disbelief, “The dog actually has its own bedroom!” Then, Lauren curiously asked, “What’s inside the dog’s room?”

I was so excited when Rebecca let slip that Henri is getting access to some incredible features – things that honestly, a lot of us humans would be super jealous of! It sounds amazing.

‘Well, it’s got heated floors,’ she said before admitting: ‘We’re mad.’

‘She’s got a water bowl with a little tap above it to fill up her water bowl.’

The property will also feature a home theater, a gym, a swimming pool, and a very large master bedroom.

This historic manor, built around 1876 in the Italianate style, features many original details, including beautiful wood floors, fireplaces, high ceilings, and a slate roof.

Bec and Andy discovered the house had been empty since 1992. The previous owners had started renovations but stopped for reasons unknown, leaving the property in terrible condition for over ten years.

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2025-09-27 13:34