Concrete Block Residence

Walter Taylor was born in Sheffield England in 1872. His family had emigrated to Australia when he was ten years old. Walter worked for the railways in Queensland until 1902 when he returned to England to market some inventions. He returned to Australia in 1912, having spent much of his time overseas studying methods of reinforced concrete construction and use of coke breeze block and brick.

In Queensland, Walter undertook construction contracts with many leading architects, building such structures as Trittons furniture warehouse at North Quay; Brisbane Newspaper Company bulk stores at William and Margaret Streets; warehouse and offices for Hooper & Harrison Ltd, G Smith Esq, Hoey Fry Ltd, and Gordon and Gotch. He also built the nine story Craigston Flats in Wickham Street; No 2 Block and the Nurses Quarters at the Brisbane General Hospital; RSL Club in Elizabeth Street; Tristram’s Aerated Water Factory at South Brisbane; and the Breakfast Creek Bridge, Albion.

Walter Taylor realised the growth and commercial potential of the Graceville-Sherwood area during the interwar period, and immediately beyond, and constructed this shop to cater for local clientele. In this district he constructed two residences on Austral Ave, the Central Buildings at 327 Honour Ave (which contained shops and his own office), the shop and residence at 335 Honour Ave, and a bulk store for his prefabricated concrete blocks at 11 Rakeevan Rd. He also designed and built the Graceville Methodist Church, and two homes for himself, at 15 Molonga Tce and 95 Banks Rd. 

He is probably best known for the 1936 Walter Taylor suspension bridge that crosses the Brisbane River at Chelmer, which he both designed and constructed. Taylor was heavily involved in the administration of the Methodist Church in Queensland for almost fifty years, and also in community work. He was president of the Graceville Progress Association and the Indooroopilly-Chelmer Centenary Memorial Bridge League. An inventor, designer and builder, Taylor was also an accomplished bookbinder, exhibiting in Brisbane in 1924 in conjunction with Lloyd Rees. 

Novex Dry Cleaners were located in the building and the current occupant is Mr Spots Dry Cleaners.

The Rakeevan Street frontage reveals a small extension on the rear of the building. Possibly added during c1969 when an application was made to, and subsequently approved, by Brisbane City Council.

1. Brisbane City Council Building Card Records

2. Brisbane City Council Water Supply and Sewerage Detail Plans

3. Brisbane City Council Department of Works Building Registers 1925-1945

4. Certificates of Titles, Department of Natural Resources and Mines

5. Lewis, Miles. Australian Building – a Cultural Investigation. “Cement & Concrete: Forms & Structures” at 7.08.13 (Copy undated)

6. Walter Taylor South Character and Heritage Study, BCC Heritage Unit, 1997