Maheno

Prior to the subdivision of the land into small lots, Edward Deighton owned thirteen acres of land. From the late 1870s this land was subdivided and much of it became part of the Deighton Estate. In 1884 Enos Williams purchased just over nineteen perches of land on what used to be James Street (now Lochaber Street). At this time, Williams was residing on Gladstone Road, was a partner of building firm, Hall and Williams, and was listed as a stonemason.

Williams had previous experience constructing buildings in Sydney. Described as a contractor, in 1868 he was declared insolvent. It is likely he learnt the skill of constructing the ‘Victorian Filigree’ terrace house in Sydney and followed the same design for the two houses on Lochaber Street. Williams recognised the demand for housing as the population of this part of South Brisbane increased. The exact construction date of the houses is unclear as they were immediately let to a succession of tenants from at least 1887. This coincided with the suburban development of the street with only three people living in the street in 1883 and twenty three people in 1887. 

In 1892, Williams was in financial difficulties once more, when the property was advertised as “Important Sale of the Real Property and Houses, By Order of the Mortgagee – Enos Williams – Allot. 2 Deighton Estate – Two Semi-detached Brick Villas” (The Telegraph 23 July 1892, p8)1. The property did not sell and was once again advertised in 1901, “Subdivision 2 of Portion 215, Parish of South Brisbane … consisting of Cottage containing five rooms” (Brisbane Courier, 13 July 1901, p8)1. It wasn’t until 1910 however, that the property was sold. 

Further evidence of Williams’ poor financial position can be seen when investigating his business partnerships. In the 1890s he became partners with Andrew Gillespie, a resident in James Street (now Lochaber Street) and a carpenter. Gillespie also played a major contribution to the development of South Brisbane as Alderman and Mayor of the South Brisbane City Council. The firm, Williams and Gillespie, was dissolved in 1899 and this was recorded in the Government Gazette, “Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership hitherto subsisting between the undersigned, Enos Williams and Andrew Gillespie … Dissolved by mutual consent … All debts owing from or due to the Partnership will be discharged or received by the said Andrew Gillespie, whose address is James Street, off Boggo Road, South Brisbane” (Government Gazette, 23 December 1899, p1655)1. Once again, in 1906 the creditors called for the liquidation of Williams’ estate. As mentioned, the property was eventually sold to John Vincent Shay in 1910 and remained a rental property. 

The Lochaber Street brick duplex is an unusual example of ‘Victorian Filagree’ domestic architecture in Dutton Park. Although there are several other examples of terrace houses in nearby South Brisbane, for example in Edmondstone Street, they do not closely resemble the traditional masonry terrace houses commonly found in southern cities such as Sydney and Melbourne from the mid-late nineteenth century.

1. The Telegraph 23 July 1892, p8

2. Brisbane Courier, 13 July 1901, p8

3. Government Gazette, 23 December 1899, p1655

4. Brisbane City Council Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Detail Plans

5. Brisbane City Council, 1946 aerial photographs.

6. Certificates of Title, Department of Environment and Resource Management

7. Queensland Post Office Directories

8. Queensland Electoral Rolls