Residence

This brick cottage was probably built circa 1881-82 for George Costin, a bricklayer, who acquired the 17 perch allotment in 1881.  It is possible that Costin constructed the house himself. The house is situated on land which was part of 119 acres purchased by speculator, James Gibbon, in 1850, and subdivided for working class residential development from the 1860s-1880s. Costin was one of several skilled working class residents living in the street by the early 1880s. 

In 1898, after the death of George Costin, the cottage passed to his wife, Thurza, who continued to live at 201 Arthur Street. The house was sold after her death in 1917 to Mary Anne Dargan who retained the property until 1950. 

 

The cottage features an L-shaped verandah with a separate roof and simple timber detailing. It appears that a small extension at the rear of the house was replaced later by a longer addition – possibly the garage extension approved by the Brisbane City Council in 1953.