Addresses
Type of place
House
Period
Federation 1890-1914
Style
Queenslander
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Trotter Farmhouse
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Trotter Farmhouse
Trotter Farmhouse
Addresses
Type of place
House
Period
Federation 1890-1914
Style
Queenslander
From 1860 land sales had seen the gradual development of farms in the Corinda district with pioneer selectors in 1860s and 1870s growing maize, potatoes, bananas, cotton, sugar cane, and arrowroot. While the opening of the rail line in 1876 prompted subdivision and residential settlement, large areas of Corinda remained in use as farmlands into the twentieth century. This house was established by George Trotter on a subdivision of more than 10 acres by 1892, and it remained in use as a farmhouse under a succession of owners until the early 1950s. There is some evidence to indicate the house was brought to the site by bullock train and therefore may have been constructed earlier than the 1890s.
Lot plan
L201_RP129257
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Timber
Criterion for listing
(A) HistoricalInteractive mapping
Lot plan
L201_RP129257
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Timber
Criterion for listing
(A) HistoricalInteractive mapping
History
The area from Chelmer to Corinda was known as “Boyland’s Pocket” in the 1850s, Captain Boyland having leased the area in 1851. In 1860 the new Queensland government opened up the district for selection, at a price of 1 pound per acre, resulting in the establishment of a number of farms ranging anywhere between 25 and 70 acres in size. Attempts were made by pioneer selectors during the 1860s and 1870s to produce maize, potatoes, bananas, cotton, sugar cane, and arrowroot. The opening of a railway bridge at Indooroopilly in 1876 reduced the isolation of the area, and allowed for increased subdivision. The first main wave occurred in the 1880s, a boom period for Brisbane. However, many of the allotments sold at this time remained vacant for years, and continued to be used for small farming operations. Later waves of building, occurring after each of the World Wars, gradually reduced the amount of farmland, and new housing continues to envelop those gracious older houses which once stood on acreage, surrounded by gardens.
In 1878 George Trotter purchased subdivision 2 of portion 110 (10 acres and 2 roods) from selector Charles Martindale, who had purchased the 31 acres of portion 110 in 1864. The QER lists George Trotter at Yeerongpilly in 1870-71, and as having a freehold in Oxley from 1875, possibly on portion 111, to the east of 110. By 1892 he is still listed as freehold, Oxley, but his sons George Jnr (b.1866) and William James (b. 1868) are listed as resident on portion 110.
This indicates that the house was extant by 1892. Local lore has it that the original part of the house was brought to the property by bullock train, which would mean it could be considerably older. The larger part brought in from elsewhere some time later. In 1896, George Senior is listed as freehold on portion 111, George Jnr is resident on portion 94 (central Sherwood), and sons William James, Robert John (b. 1871) and Richard Henry (b. 1873) are resident on portion 110.
The 1891 POD lists George Trotter as a drayman at Corinda, and from 1894 to 1902 there are listings for both a George Trotter, farmer, Corinda, and a George Trotter, storekeeper, at Sherwood. The storekeeper was probably George junior, later an architect.
The Leadbetter family, also farmers, owned the property from 1902 to 1910. In 1910 it was transferred to Mary Hunter, the wife of poultry farmer Andrew John M. S. Hunter. After passing through the hands of a number of owners, most of the land was sold in 1952, leaving 2 acres, 1 rood and 15 perches under the ownership of William and Heather McBaron. In 1971 the land was again subdivided, leaving the current 66.7 perches on which the house stands.
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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Title deeds, Department of Natural Resources and Mines
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Walter Taylor South Character and Heritage Study, BCC Heritage Unit, 1997
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Queensland Post Office Directories
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Queensland Electoral Rolls
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Watson, Donald and Judith McKay. A Directory of Queensland Architects to 1940. (St. Lucia: U of Q Press, 1984)
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Queensland Pioneers Index 1829-1889. Births, Deaths and Marriages
Citation prepared by — Brisbane City Council (page revised June 2022)