European House #18 was built in the early 20th century when Cheung Chau was found to be an ideal alternative to The Peak as a site for holiday villas. There was a flurry of building of these houses in 1909-10. The house doesn't appear on a 1911 photo of Fa Peng though, so it was built some time after then.
House #18 was a bungalow, sturdily built of locally quarried granite blocks, secure enough to withstand the typhoon season, with a flat concrete roof. Like the other villas, it faced south, with servants' quarters at the rear. It enjoyed fine views west to Lantau and south-west over Chung Chau and islands to the south.
In 1938 the owner of this house was recorded as Mr G F Sauer, who may have been a German missionary. On the other hand, there is a Georg Friedrich Sauer, who appears on the HK jury lists. He was a pharmacist and worked for China Export-Import & Bank Co, Ltd. He is recorded as living on the premises.
Today the site is still occupied by House #18, which may be the original house.
Photos that show this Place
