453 Bowen Terrace, New Farm

While the builders of the residence are given as Watts and Justin, "Builders Exchange", the architect is identified as the important and influential New Zealand born architect Robin Dods. At this stage of his career he was in partnership with Francis Richard Hall. The firm was known as Hall and Dods and they practised in partnership between c1896-1916.

Dods is credited with achieving an

"...architectural revolution in Brisbane." This resulted from Dods' highly developed architectural imagination, his introduction of the formal and philosophical ideas of both the British arts and Crafts movement and Edwardian classicism.1

While Dods' work was to evolve many of his initial preferences for design are to be found in this residence. These include the extensive use of timber and gable decoration.

The land for this property had derived from the sale of the estate of Robert Langlands Armour. From this sale George Daniell had purchased one rood and 8 perches in November 1890. Power in turn purchased 24 perches from Daniell in November c1904.

At the time of purchase by Power the Post Office Directories disclose that Bowen TerraCe was well developed. While the locality had a mixture of housing types and sizes the Detail Plans indicate that by c1925 there were substantial homes near and adjacent this property indicating it was a desirable location in which to re_sidThe initial name given to this residence was "Ballydavid", probably after the small fishing village on the Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry, Ireland.

In c1910 Power purchased 16 perches adjacent to his residence and in c1913 he on-sold just over 4 perches of this allotment. The remainder he amalgamated with the subject property to form a total area of 36 perches. A new title deed was issued to this effect.

Power disposed of the property in c1921 to the Florence Vaughan, wife of Richard Vaughan. In late c1951 the residence was approved as registered flats for 8 persons while still under the ownership of Florence Vaughan. Larger inner city residences were frequently utilised as flats in post World War II Brisbane to meet, and take advantage, of the housing shortages. The property has subsequently had a number of owners.

The residence initially comprised of two main sections, the main residence and servant's quarters or kitchen at the rear, a room and open veranda linked these. This rear section has at a later date undergone renovation and/or extension, quite possibly when the house was converted into flats in the early 1950s.

The dwelling is of large proportions, with chimneys on both the western and eastern sides. The roof is of one section and the front has a slight ornate offset single gable covering what was once the primary entry to the dwelling. The residence is in keeping with other larger dwellings in the locality.

This dwelling, even in its partially adapted state for flats, is an example of Dod's use of timber combined with his noted design style, which exhibit "simplicity and reticence", being utilised in a larger residence.

1. Donald Watson and Judith Mckay. Queensland Architects of the 19th Century: A Biographical Dictionary.(Queensland Museum. 1994) p.55

2. Brisbane City Council Building Registers: 1904-1908

3. Brisbane City Council Building Cards

4. Brisbane City Council Detail Plans

5. Certificates of Title.

6. Lund, Neville H. The LIfe and Works of Robin S. Dods. B Arch thesis, University of Queensland. 1954

7. McKellar's Map of Brisbane and Suburbs. Brisbane: Surveyor-General’s Office, 1895

8. Musgrave, Elizabeth, Kaylee Wilson and Brisbane City Council Heritage Unit. New Farm and Teneriffe Hill: Heritage and Character Study. October 1995

9. Post Office Directories.

10. Rosanne Dedman, Interview with Josephine Power of New Farm. February 1994

11. Votes and Proceedings. Season of 1900. Vol 4

12. Watson, Donald and Judith McKay. A Directory of Queensland Architects to 1940. (St. Lucia: U of Q Press, 1984)

13. Donald Watson and Judith McKay, Queensland Architects of the Nineteenth Century, South Brisbane: Queensland Museum, 1994