Willow Brook Mansion

“Willow Brook” Mansion & Stables

“Willow Brook” is a beautiful two storey late Victorian style 1880’s mansion, with grounds of approximately 4,905 square metres, and is registered with heritage South Australia. It was built of solid sandstone and bluestone construction in 1883 by “Ernst Wilhelm Theodor Pustkuchen” who named it “Weidenbach” (Willow Brook). Ernst sold this beautiful mansion in 1897 to Frederick Charles Howard, who decided to rename it “Frimley”.

The house was originally built with ten rooms including the master’s quarters, but has since been extended. It boasts tessellated tiled verandahs, corbels, quoins and lacework, typical of the late Victorian style. The sandstone frontage is graced with iron face work and ornamentation around the bay windows. Bluestone was used for the construction of the sides of the house, and a combination of brick and bluestone for the back. The interior has high decorative ceilings, ornate cornices, decorative fireplaces and original cellar.

The property includes a coach house, stables and servants’ quarters; the walls constructed of bluestone and the quoins from brick. The servants’ quarters (now a wine cellar or store) boasts the original flagstone slate floor and original cedar doors. Originally painted in lime wash, the ceiling and walls have since been painted using new materials.

Heritage Reconstruction Work

In 2015, Lancaster Painters Australia performed interior and exterior heritage reconstruction work to the original surfaces of “Frimley” mansion, the stables, workshop, store (previously the servants’ quarters), the back gates, front gates and front fence. Gary Lancaster also repainted the new entertainment area and other items on the property including the garden bench. All work was performed professionally to the Australian Industry Standards using super premium quality paint and materials.

Willow Brook External Heritage Repaint

Willow Brook Mansion External Heritage Repaint

Willow Brook Top Quality Exterior Repaint

Willow Brook Mansion Heritage Exterior Repaint

Exterior heritage work included colour matching, thorough preparation and repainting of surfaces, and glass replacement for windows. Lancaster Painters Australia also repainted the timber walls, brick wall, timber doors, door frames, window frames, beams, downpipe, posts, latticework, decking, plymph and the staircase of the new entertainment area. The stonework on the walls of the front and two sides of the stables were thoroughly cleaned by water blasting. The rooves, gutters, fascias, window frames, doors, door frames and air vent at top of the stables were repainted to match the existing heritage colour scheme.

Willow Brook Top Quality Furniture Repaint

Willow Brook Garden Bench Painting

Interior heritage work included repolishing the exterior side of the front door and repair and artsitic touch up work to the interior wood graining of the front door. Gary Lancaster artistically hand painted wood grain finishes to the timber around the internal fan light and two sidelights, ensuring the matching of the original wood grain of the timber in colour, texture and design. Wood grain finishes included medium oak and burl walnut wood grain. All surfaces were thoroughly prepared prior to commencement of works.

Willow Brook Faux Wood Graining Decorative Finish

Wilowbrook Entrance Heritage Faux Wood Graining

Lastly, professional heritage artist Gary Lancaster performed sensitive artistic restoration work to two original pieces of historic artwork. The work involved highly sensitive cleaning of the works and artistically restoring the worn and damaged areas of the original artwork using artists paints. Gary coated the works of art with traditional heritage coatings in order to preserve the pieces. Non-reflective glass was installed in the frame of one of the pieces for additional protection – see portfolio below.

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