From the exhibition 'Modern Beach Homes 1950-1970' held at the Coral Street Art Space, Victor Harbor, 14 January to 28 February 2023 using material from the John Chappel archive held at the State Library of South Australia.
Peter Lee talks about his family's house at Encounter Bay.
Located in ‘fashionable Encounter Bay,’ Sir Arthur James Lee’s ‘luxury beach house’ was built for £8000 in 1958. ‘Simple in shape and appearance,’ architect James Hall designed the home during his presidency of the South Australian Institute of Architects (1958-1960).
Occupying a secluded position surrounded by cool green lawns and with private access to the beach, house and garden achieve the effect of an ease of living and enjoyment of simple outdoor space. Attuned to existing site conditions and scenic surroundings, the house works with the fall of site to create space below the main floor for boat storage. Cantilevered floor beams suspend a viewing and sun deck above grade, while picture windows have been integrated within a façade consisting of polished oak.
Bedrooms have integrated storage and wall cupboards with the main bedroom leading on to an ensuite. A concealed steel beam in the living room ceiling space, enables a generous sized room in which there is ‘as much free-living area as possible,’ with picture windows bringing the view indoors, and a fireplace for cold nights.
Furnishings were ‘lightweight and portable’, in which the whole design gives way to an ‘air of gaiety’ and easy informality’ appropriate to a holiday house. For domestic help, the home had a housekeeper.
As a descendant of a well-known family of hoteliers and sportsmen, Lee was one of Australia’s best-known hotel-keepers. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel during WWII, in 1959 he was made a Companion of the British Empire, and later Knighted in 1966. His services to the The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) were recognised in 1962, when he was awarded Life Membership.
Along with these accomplishments, Arthur was known, with brothers Robert and Jack as the owner of 1950 Melbourne Cup winner ‘Comic Court.’
Text: Dr James Curry (curator)
Video production Paul Moses
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