Stephen's Farm Homestead (former)

The Waldheim property was part of a 33-acre estate acquired by TB Stephens by Deed of Grant in 1859. The property was subsequently passed to Stephen’s wife Anne following his death in 1877. In 1886 over 20 acres was transferred to William. He built the house ‘Waldheim’ (a German name meaning ‘home in the forest’) around the time of his marriage to Pauline Anna Caroline Effey on 14 March 1900. The house was built at a cost of £300.

William Stephens was a company director and farmer who managed the Stephens family estate after the death of his father in 1877. He had many business pursuits. These included directorships of the Imperial Deposit Bank, Brisbane Milling Company, Kingston Butter Company and South Qld Co-operative Dairy Company and proprietor Merrimac dairy farms near Nerang. 

William also played a significant role in public life. He was the first Mayor of South Brisbane Municipal Council from 1888-89. He was also Member of the Legislative Assembly between 1888-1896, 1896-1904, 1907-1908 and Member of the Legislative Council from 1912-1922.

In those days Blacket Street did not exist. Waldheim Street was a very short street of about 50-75 yards in length. Here it was fenced off and two double gates led the one on the left to Junction Park State School and the one on the right to the drive to ‘Waldheim’, the family home. In 1900 William Stephens was listed as living at ‘Camboquepa’, Vulture Street, South Brisbane and in 1901 at Ipswich Road, Annerley which suggests there was probably another entrance to the property at that time. There was no listing in the Post Office Directories for Waldheim Street until 1910.

‘Waldheim’ remained the residence of William Stephens and his family until his death in 1925. His widow, Pauline, remained at ‘Waldheim’ until about 1938 when it passed to GH Hardy. 

In 1949 the China Inland Mission, now the Overseas Missionary Fellowship purchased ‘Waldheim’ for the headquarters of the Queensland branch and residence of the State Secretary.

In 1976 the property was sold to Len Campbell, Gwenda Madeleine Campbell and Malcolm William Alexander Kerr and Shirley Elizabeth Kerr as joint tenants in common. In 1999 the property was transferred to the current owners, Caroline Kaylene Jamieson and James Douglas McGregor as tenants in common.

‘Waldheim’ now operates as the Clansmen Restaurant, a long-time dining institution in Brisbane.

1. Department of Natural Resources, Queensland Certificates of title and other records.

2. Brisbane City Council, Properties on the Web, website

3. BCC Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Detail Plan 439, 1935

4. Post Office Directories 1900-1910

5. Mackenzie, Annie, Memories along the Boggo Track, Boolarong Publications, 1992

6. Hogan, Janet, Historic Homes of Brisbane, National Trust of Queensland, 1979

7. Byrnes, Matthew, Stephens District: Historical Overview, 1995

8. Stephens, Llewellyn, The Stephens Family in Annals of Annerley, RHSQ, 1997

9. National Trust of Queensland, Annerley Journal, May 1996

10. Reid, E. in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 6 1851-1890, Ed B Nairn, Melbourne University Press, 1976
    
     

11. Waterson, D.B., A Biographical Register of the Queensland Parliament 1860-1929, Australian National University Press, Canberra, 1972