Bearsden

In 1883 William Gresty Billington, resident of Enoggera and variously a warehouseman and importer, bought twelve acres of land here. In 1885 Billington raised a £1,500 mortgage, and this may have been used to build this house named 'Bearsden'.  There is some evidence to suggest that the house preceded Billington, but this is not conclusive. The 1885/6 postal records show Billington living at Enoggera, listed at Wilston Street or on Enoggera Road. 

In 1900, for reasons unknown, Billington advertised the house to let. The advertisement revealed a substantial five-roomed house which included, "wide verandah, kitchen, servant's room, laundry, man's room, two-stalled stable, buggy house, and seven large water tanks". It is not known whether the letting attempts were successful but certainly by the First World War Billington was in residence, the Brisbane Courier reporting his son's award of the Military Cross in 1917. He retained ownership of the entire property until he divided some of his holdings, selling 70 blocks near Enoggera Creek in 1914 as the Bearsden estate. He finally left Bearsden after a further sale in August 1926, when he disposed of a further 51 allotments, as well as his "gentleman's home" on a half-acre allotment.

The house and two blocks were bought by Herbert Cheetham, builder, and his wife Ellen Agatha Cheetham in 1926, but transferred to Ellen the following year. Herbert Cheetham was listed as living here by 1929 and Herbert and Ellen were still living here in 1941. Only Ellen was registered for this address on the 1946 electoral roll. Herbert Cheetham is known to have extended this house, including the parquetry flooring and additional living areas.

The house remained in Ellen’s possession until its sale in 1968 to John and Janise Herron. Dr John Herron was a Liberal Party Senator for Queensland (since 1996, resigned Jan 2001), and Federal Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs. He was federal councillor for the Liberal Party from 1977-1983 and President of the Queensland division of the Liberal Party from 1980-83. Dr Herron was also prominent as a surgeon and used part of this house as consulting rooms. He is a former chairman of the Queensland Branch of the Australian Association of Surgeons and was President of the Queensland Branch of the AMA from 1988-89. The Herron family appears to have lived here until they sold in 1988. During their occupancy the Herrons further extended the house to accommodate their large family, adding a bedroom and bathroom wing along the side, forming the courtyard at the back.

The house retains many of the features installed by previous owners, including a built-in fish aquarium under the front stair landing.

1. Bearsden estate map, March 1914

2. Brisbane Courier, 14 & 16 March 1914; 29 & 31 July, 4, 5, 6 & 7 August 1926

3. Daily Mail, 3, 5, 6 & 7August 1926

4. Brisbane City Council, Detail plan 1056, n.d.

5. Queensland Certificates of Title

6. Queensland Electoral rolls, 1941, 1946, 1970

7. Queensland Post Office Directories

8. Sunday Mail, 23 July 1989, magazine p. 54