Addresses
Type of place
House
Period
Victorian 1860-1890
Style
Queenslander
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Residence
23 Junction Terrace, Annerley
Addresses
Type of place
House
Period
Victorian 1860-1890
Style
Queenslander
This brick residence was built around 1890, during a period of increased urbanisation in Annerley following improvements in transport and civic services. The first owner of the house, John Olsen, played a prominent role in Brisbane’s churches, clubs and societies, including as a founder of the Queensland Musical, Literary and Self-aid Society for the Blind. The house was named ‘Dorinda’ after Olsen’s wife and the property remained in the family until 1972.
Lot plan
L71_RP37475
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Information —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Face brick
Interactive mapping
Lot plan
L71_RP37475
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Information —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Face brick
Interactive mapping
History
John Cockerill purchased 25 acres in Yeerongpilly in 1859 (all of portion 104), most of which was sold as part of the Junction Park Estate in the 1880s and 1890s. Until this period Annerley had been a sparsely populated and largely rural area, despite its proximity to the central business district. The attraction of the area became more apparent after transport to the area improved and a number of local services were introduced, including a post office, churches and schools. Estate sales rose dramatically in the 1880s and 1890s, as single-family dwellings were constructed on sixteen-perch blocks.
Subdivision 71 (also sixteen perches) was purchased by John Olsen in 1889. The 1890 Post Office Directory lists four houses in the course of erection in Junction Terrace; 1891 lists the new occupants, including John Olsen.
Olsen was the owner from September 1889 to 1906, when the property was sold to his stepdaughter. Olsen was a blind basket weaver who ‘was endowed with a character and personality out of the ordinary, and the sincere manner in which he worked for the betterment of his fellowmen endeared him to all with whom he came in contact.’ He was a pioneer of the juvenile movement of Ancient Order of Foresters (which was later named ‘Court John Olsen’ in his honour), as well as the founder of the Queensland Musical, Literary and Self-aid Society for the Blind. He had been involved in Baptist and Christ Churches as preacher, teacher, elder, deacon and was librarian and teacher of Braille system. A memorial stone was laid in his honour in 1926 in the South Brisbane Cemetery, and a tablet in the blind rooms, on the corner of Vulture St and Stephens Rd. At the time of his death he was residing in ‘Concord’, Junction-terrace, Annerley.
Olsen’s stepdaughter Agnes Mathieu owned the allotment until her death in 1936; the Mathieu family continued to own it until 1972.
The house was known as ‘Dorinda’, after John Olsen’s wife, who lived with her daughter in the house after her husband’s death, until she passed away in 1930.
References
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The Brisbane Courier 29 October 1926 p3
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The Brisbane Courier 12 January 1926 p4
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The Brisbane Courier, 13 September 1930 p12
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Queensland Places: Annerley (http://queenslandplaces.com.au/annerley), accessed 28 March 2011
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Titles Office Records
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‘Urban Development and Houses in Annerley’ in Annals of Annerley
prepared by — Brisbane City Council (page revised March 2023)