Munna

Historical evidence suggests that the house was built circa 1906 for Edward G. Kent, who named his new home Dornhurst. Within a few months of the purchase, Kent transferred the title deeds for the property into the name of his wife, Lydia.

At this time, Wilston was developing as a middle class residential suburb. This was spurred by the opening of the Enoggera railway through Windsor, Wilston and Newmarket in 1899. Large existing estates were carved up into residential allotments in the early years of the 1900s. Residential estates such as the Harle Estate on the northern side of Wilston Railway Station and Langley Banks Estate on the southern side, which included Murray Street, provided convenient access for residents to the city by train. The Kent’s home, Dornhurst, was only the third house to appear in Murray Street according to postal directories for 1907. 

In 1911, the titles for a parcel of over one acre in Murray Street were transferred to Minnie Zoeller, the wife of a German immigrant, Carl Zoeller. A further 5 acres was acquired by Minnie in 1915. A slightly different account was given in a letter by Carl Zoeller dated 12 November 1912:

About a year ago I bought a very nice house in a suburb with two and a half acres of land and it is nice to live here. We have a big garden with vegetables and fruit trees, keep about sixty hens and two fine milk-cows, so that we have vegetables, fruit, milk, cream, butter and eggs in abundance. The station is only two minutes away and it takes me only fifteen minutes to get to my office. In 1911 business was very good and I was able to purchase the house and garden for cash. I then gave it as a present to my wife and children, so that they will always have a roof over their heads if something should happen to me.

The Zoellers named the house on their new property Munna after Mrs Zoeller’s birthplace on the Noosa River. One of the Zoeller’s sons, Buster, (Herbert) now lives not far from 29 Murray Street and has also named his house, Munna.

Carl Zoeller was a significant figure in Brisbane’s medical history. He emigrated from Germany in 1885, moving to Brisbane in 1886 as the book-keeper for a Melbourne firm. In 1896, Carl Zoeller established a business in Queen Street importing medical instruments into Queensland and from 1900 to 1901 owned St. Helen’s hospital on the present site of the Queensland State Library. 

Carl Zoeller was interned during World War I because of his German origins, despite becoming a naturalised British subject of Australia in 1908. He was later deported. These experiences and the legal battles which followed caused Zoeller much distress and led to his suicide in South Africa in 1926.

The property at 29 Murray Street remained in the Zoeller family until 1922 when it was sold to Adela Moore, the wife of Frank Joshua Moore. Some of the property was then subdivided and sold while the Moores retained the land surrounding the house.

In 1948, the property was purchased by four new owners. They included Rita McLean and Gladys Crowe who established a reception centre on the site. 29 Murray Street became one of Brisbane’s most popular venues over the ensuing decades, playing host to guests who included Sir Donald Bradman, former prime ministers Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser and former Governor-General, Sir Zelman Cowan. From 1970, the property was owned by Richard Magnum for many years. It has been estimated that nearly 25 000 wedding receptions took place at 29 Murray Street before it closed as a venue in 1995. At that time, the neighbouring house at 17 Murray Street was part of the property and also used for weddings and other functions.

Extensions to the house were carried out during the 1960s and 1970s including the addition of an office to the southern side. Much of the interior of the house was gutted to enable the house to be used as a function venue.

29 Murray Street has been renovated by its current owners and returned to a family home. Remaining original features of the house include stained glass fanlights and doors and VJ walls and ceilings. The original property has been subdivided for further residential development at the rear of the house.

1. Brisbane City Council Water Supply and Sewerage Detail Plans

2. John Oxley Library Suburb File, Wilston

3. John Oxley Library Clipping File – 29 Murray St Wilston, Courier Mail 10 Dec 1994

4. Paterson, Dr. Robert. Internee 1/5126. Brisbane: Dr. Robert Paterson, 1983

5. Queensland Certificates of Title

6. Queensland Post Office Directories