Third generation builders sell up O'Malley family home after 30 years

Combining family and business doesn’t always result in a happy ending, but for father-and-son duo, Peter and Darrell Leemhuis, working together resulted in the construction of a fairytale home in O’Malley more than 30 years ago. 

Today, the five-bedroom house that they built from the ground up at 28 Pindari Crescent, O’Malley, is on the market, marking a bittersweet farewell for the pair.

“When we started on the house, I was just an apprentice,” Darrell says. “This was about the first time I started working with my dad … we never take ourselves too seriously so it was a lot more fun than it was serious.”

Having enlisted renowned architect Clem Cummings to design the home, Peter describes the execution in its build with Darrell as “easy”.

“We have our own family company called A+P Leemhuis so working together on this was exciting,” he says. “Thirty years on, it’s like every other day and so we’re constantly learning from each other.”

One of the checklist items Peter wanted was a home that was “north-facing to take advantage of the sun in any season and something that suited my whole family”.

The home, which sits on 1796 square metres of land was made for large families. It hosts multiple living areas and study spaces and has a large courtyard that overlooks the landscaped gardens and a pool.

High ceilings feature throughout the house and a view of the Woden Valley region from one of the study spaces is a bonus. The space also has its own kitchenette and bathroom.

“We actually used that space as the company office for many many years, up until a year and a half ago,” Darrell says. “So it’s served as not only a home for all six of us kids but also as the company home as well so we’ve had many memories there.”

When you walk through the house, a highlight is the various artworks speckled throughout the living and dining rooms, and even the bedrooms.

Peter says he collected the artworks over the years from all over the world during his own travels and when he pursued a career as a racing driver.

“I wouldn’t say I’m obsessed with art but I do like nice things and make time to purchase it so, over the years, I’ve made quite the art collection,” he says.

“I have many artworks from Berlin artist Olga Lunow in my living area, which are just beautiful. I also have works from different pockets of the world and even from Clem Cummings himself who was not only a great architect but a talented artist.

“But it’s not just art, I like to purchase other things like cars and even have an architect’s easel that I purchased from an antique dealer in Europe, and that’s more than 100 years old.”

Now, after more than three decades in their home, the Leemhuis family are ready to bid farewell to it.

“It has served us well. We have a big family and have hosted many family barbecues here and made beautiful memories but we’re ready for the next family to enjoy it,” Peter says.

“We’re ready to start the next chapter of our lives.”

O’Malley

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Auction: 6.30pm, December 2

Agent: Belle Property Canberra, Dan McAlpine 0401 005 282