Addresses
Type of place
Flat building
Period
Federation 1890-1914
Style
Queenslander
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Residence 'Whetfield'
Whetfield
Addresses
Type of place
Flat building
Period
Federation 1890-1914
Style
Queenslander
This late nineteenth century rendered brick residence was purpose-built as two-storey flats on a 32 perch allotment in 1891 for Alfred Covey. It provides evidence of the development of Albion as an early residential working class suburb in the 1890s and is still in use today as a multiple dwelling.
Lot plan
L35_RP19036; L36_RP19036
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Masonry - Render
Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (B) RarityInteractive mapping
Lot plan
L35_RP19036; L36_RP19036
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Masonry - Render
Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (B) RarityInteractive mapping
History
While Albion had initially been a semi-rural area dotted with grand homes, the coming of the railway in 1882 saw the urbanisation of the area, which was largely populated by Scottish migrants. In 1885, rail duplication work began from Albion to Eagle Junction stations to meet the demands of the railway branching off to Doomben which resulted in Albion becoming more attractive for residential development. By the late 1880s and early 1890s Albion was one of a number of prosperous suburban centres that had arisen in response to the expansion of Brisbane from its former small city core.
This two-storey rendered brick house was built in 1891 for Alfred George Covey during Albion’s early development as an inner-northern suburb. Covey was a shipwright who lived in Constance Street, Fortitude Valley, near the Newstead wharves. When he built the house, he rented one level to master mariner John Benjamin Helsdon and the other to Francis Lamb, a draper. Helsdon and his family lived in the house until 1899 when, on account of Covey’s death, the property was transferred to George Horsfall. For a few years Helsdon lived at Kenmore, but moved back to 10 Stoneleigh Street in 1901 and eventually purchased the property on 12 May 1908, having lived in it for more than 15 years.
Although largely intact, the house has undergone some alterations including the addition of an external staircase and an extension to the rear corner of the house in the 1950s. The house is still registered as a multiple dwelling.
Description
Combines brick, tile and tin.
Statement of significance
Relevant assessment criteria
This is a place of local heritage significance and meets one or more of the local heritage criteria under the Heritage planning scheme policy of the Brisbane City Plan 2014. It is significant because:
References
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Department of Natural Resources, Certificates of Title
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Brisbane City Council Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Detail Plans
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Queensland Post Office Directories, 1888-1913
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Transmission of Real Estate by Death Register
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Queensland Government Gazette, 16 September 1899
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Queensland Pioneers Index 1829-1889
Citation prepared by — Brisbane City Council (page revised September 2020)