29 Burns Road, Toowong

At the time of purchase Arthy obtained a mortgage of 400/-/-, with further sums of 100 and 30 being borrowed in December 1880 and May 1883 respectively. William Arthy was prominent within the local community. He was head and first teacher of the Toowong School (Long Pocket School); he also gave singing lessons at Petrie Terrace School and was the first organist of St Thomas’ Church at Toowong. Arthy also may have given private music lessons from his Burns Road house.

In 1886 Walter Horatio Wilson again acquired the property from Arthy, and took out a mortgage of 400/-/-. It is highly probable Arthy and Wilson were associates as they were involved in the same community and church society and this may have resulted and/or influenced the original sale and repurchase of the property.

The Hon Walter Horatio Wilson moved to Queensland in 1865 to practice law as a solicitor. Although suffering at times from ill health he entered the Legislative Council in 1885 and served in a number of positions, which included Minister without Portfolio (1890-93, 1894-98) and Postmaster General (1893-94 &1898).  Wilson had a diverse 

State and local profile. He founded and was president of the Brisbane Liedertafel. He had donated an harmonium to St Thomas’ Church at Toowong and ‘deputised for the organist.’

It is likely at this stage (1886) substantial alterations occurred to the dwelling. During the same period notable Brisbane Architect Richard Gailey was undertaking work on Wilson’s legal chambers. It is probable that Gailey under took the work on the remodelling of this residence. Evidence indicates that Wilson lived in the house for only a short period, as it is likely he was awaiting the construction of his new house Wilcelyn.  Also in support of the supposition that Gailey was involved in Rhos-y-Medre’s remodelling is the fact that Gailey was also the supervising Architect for Wilcelyn.

Wilson named the property after his place of birth Rhos-y-Medre, Raubon, Denbighshire, North Wales. In December 1887 the property was placed on trust, to be held by family members. It is known he frequently suffered from ill health. The property then appears to have been rented out until it was transferred in 1896 into the name of Susannah Miller. Wilson died six years later. The property since this date has had a number of owners and occupiers and is at present being restored by its current owner.

1. Australian Dictionary of Biography. (Melbourne University Press) Vol 12: 1891-1939. Smy-Z. pp.531

2. Brisbane City Council Water Supply & Sewerage Detail Plans

3. Brisbane Courier. 2 October 1886 p.7 & 1 March 1902 p.5

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

5. Environmental Protection Agency

6. Helen Gregory (ed). Fewings, J.B. Arcadian Simplicity (Brisbane: Library Board of Qld. 1990)

7. JOL Estate Map Collection and photographic collection

8. Lawson, Ronald Brisbane in the 1890s: A Study of an Australian Urban Society. St Lucia U of Q Press, 1973

9. McKellar's Map of Brisbane and Suburbs. Brisbane: Surveyor-General’s Office, 1895

10. Queenslander. 8 March 1902. p.530

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

12. Donald Watson and Judith McKay, Queensland Architects of the Nineteenth Century, South Brisbane: Queensland Museum, 1994