Addresses
Type of place
House
Period
Victorian 1860-1890
Style
Italianate
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Residence
Direenatra
Addresses
Type of place
House
Period
Victorian 1860-1890
Style
Italianate
This two-storey masonry house, designed in the Victorian Italianate style, was constructed circa 1888 for plasterer Michael Lavelle and his wife Bridget. The Lavelles sold the property in 1893 to the Coates family who purchased it as a rental investment. The Coates sold the house in 1910 and it has since had a number of different owners. During the postwar period, the residence was converted for use as flats, which was common in the 1950s in order to take advantage of the housing shortage. The house has since been restored as a single residence and has had several extensions and a pool added since the 1980s.
Lot plan
L150_RP9138
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Masonry
Criterion for listing
(A) HistoricalInteractive mapping
Lot plan
L150_RP9138
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Masonry
Criterion for listing
(A) HistoricalInteractive mapping
History
Evidence indicates that this house was constructed circa 1887-88 for plasterer Michael Lavelle.
This particular locality was known for a period as Browne's paddock, taking its name from the owner of the land Eyles Irwin Caulfield Browne. Following the transfer of the land to Thomas and Katherine Howes from Browne in May 1885 the property, comprising of approximately 30 acres, was subdivided. From this sale Bridget Lavelle, wife of Michael Lavelle purchased 16 perches (Lot 150) on 6 October 1887.
In October 1889 the Lavelles purchased a further sixteen perches. Sources however indicate that the dwelling was constructed prior to the purchase of the adjacent allotment (Lot 149).
The Brisbane City Council Detail Plan (circa 1927) discloses a verandah that bounded the western side and front of the building, facing Browne Street. Evidence indicates that the house would have initially been constructed without the surrounding verandah. The verandah protruded into the adjacent allotment indicating that the verandah was added later, in the period after Lavelle had constructed the dwelling and had purchased the adjacent allotment. The property was given the name of ‘Direenatra’.
The residence was constructed towards the end of the building boom of the 1880s. At the time of construction the majority of residents in Browne Street were trades persons and/or blue-collar workers.
The property remained under the ownership of the Lavelles until November 1893 when it was transferred into the ownership of Elizabeth Jane Coates, wife of John Kipling Coates. Evidence indicates that the Coates rented the property out. The Coates remained owners until 1910. The property subsequently has had a number of owners.
The post war period saw the residence being utilised for tenement accommodation and by December 1955 approval had been given for 19 persons to reside there. During the late 1980s and 1990s a number of alterations and additions were undertaken to modernise and enlarge the residence. A pool was added in 1996.
Description
This residence is a two-story nineteenth century masonry structure. Visible additions include a veranda on the Western side and a large twin level building abutting the house at the rear. The dwelling is constructed in the Victorian Italianate style. The rendered masonry corners, fronting the road, are vermiculated quoins.
The hipped roof has bracketed eaves, with cast iron ridge decorations. The parapet above the bay window is finished with masonry balusters. The house features a large central chimney.
The masonry front fence consists of stepped panels with capped piers and baluster infills.
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:
Supporting images
Houses of New Farm, Brisbane, 1880-1890 (Source: State Library of Queensland, Negative No. 100020).
References
-
Apperly, Richard, Robert Irving and Peter Reynolds. A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Australian Architecture: Styles and Terms from 1788 to the Present. North Ryde: Angus & Robertson, 1989
-
Queensland Certificates of Title
-
Lawson, Ronald. Brisbane in the 1890s: a study of an Australian urban society ( St Lucia, Queensland: University of Queensland Press, 1973)
-
Post Office Directories.
Citation prepared by — Brisbane City Council (page revised September 2022)