History Repeats | Marisa Vecchio and the restoration of Hanworth House

When business woman Marisa Vecchio purchased Hanworth House in 2012, she had little idea of the East Brisbane homes’ significant past.

Built in 1864, the heritage listed former hospice, and original home to Brisbane’s first Portmaster, was a far cry from its glory days.

We sat down with Marisa to talk about the transformation of the grand old home as a refuge for women, and the arson attack that almost derailed her dreams.

What did you know about Hanworth House when you bought it?

I did not really know anything about the house or its history.

I had seen the house for so many years but it was camouflaged in trees and, like so many East Brisbane residents, we never really knew what went on there.

To me it was rather like the mysterious “haunted” houses I used to see on the Disney shows as a child.

What was your vision for the project ?

I found out that 100 years before me, a lady named Mary Wienholt purchased the house in memory of her mother.

She ran a hospice for women until 1927 when she gifted “the Hospice” to the Theosophical Society on the understanding they did the same thing – which they did for 70 years.

And in 1995 The Anglican Church took it over with the aim of making it a nursing home.

So for 100 years Hanworth had been a safe refuge for Brisbane women.

My plan was to continue the tradition - but take it up a notch.

What was your restoration plan?

The plan was threefold.

Firstly, as much as possible, work with the structure we had of 19 bedrooms and large ballroom and kitchen.

Secondly, add another new but sympathetic building of 8 bedrooms.

And thirdly, respect the simplicity of the hospice ideals and enhance rather than rebuild.

Who was your restoration team?

My architect was Fraser Spencer of RSA Architects at Kangaroo Point.

I also had Michael Scott from Conrad Gargett Riddel join the team early to ensure we represented the views of heritage and environmental protection alongside compliance and modern development standards.

And my builder was Austin Ward and his team at Austruct.

How far into the project had you gone before the arson attack?

Six months into the project, when the house was 2 weeks from welcoming its first resident and on the eve of my birthday, Hanworth was set alight. The fire destroyed 80% of the home. Months of hard work ruined.

Scroll above for images of Hanworth House after the fire destroyed the home. Credit: Josh Bakkum.

Did the fire change your focus?

The day after the fire we brought the team together. We weren’t sure if the project was salvageable.

We went around the table and one by one each of the team members recommitted to the original vision - even when we said we may have a blank canvas ahead of us.

Our collective commitment led to a great result and we never diverted from our original plan, despite the fire and the enormous emotional and financial damage it caused us to suffer.

How has the project been received?

In 2014 Hanworth received the Gold Award for Heritage Conservation from the National Trust Qld Heritage Council plus the John Herbert Memorial Award for the most outstanding nomination at the 2014 National Trust Awards.

It was a finalist in the 2015 Lord Mayors business awards and also won the Premier’s Sustainability Award in 2015.

Who do you have staying at Hanworth House?

Hanworth mainly attracts longer stays of 3 months or more but the fabric of people is amazing - from students, to dancers with the Qld Ballet, to CEOs, to people moving to Brisbane from rural Qld or interstate, or here for work or travel.

We do some Air BNB and have good relationship with UQ and QUT, who love putting their PHD and visiting professors here – some men included!

The venue is available for events as well: wedding services, fashion photo shoots and high end functions are all now a part of the Hanworth story.