Smith Residence

Portion 163 remained in Bradbury and Gaymer’s hands until 1876 when their partnership ended. The two men split portion 163 into two 10-acre blocks, which they divided between themselves. Thus on 8 February 1876, Bradbury, now a resident of the German Station (later renamed Nundah) was issued with a title deed for subdivision 2 of Portion 163. This property changed hands several times before being purchased by Albert Henry Smith in 1885. At this time, Virginia was a semi-rural area with some local industry provided by the Virgina Brick Company. During the 1880s, the area began to be subdivided for residential development.

In 1884, the approval by the Queensland colonial government for the construction of a North Coast rail line led to changes to the Nudgee area. Surveying of the line began in 1885 and the new line was proposed to run close to subdivision 2. On 21 February 1885, Keinbeck sold his land to Albert Henry Smith. The completion of the North Coast railway on 1 March 1888 saw the opening of a railway station near the intersection of Sandgate and Toombul Roads, close to Smith’s 10 acres of land. This became known as Virginia Station as did the surrounding district. A rail line to Sandgate opened in 1886, and the area, where the North Coast and Sandgate rail lines joined, was previously known as the Toombul District. But the construction of a station at this rail junction caused the area to be renamed Northgate in honour of the two lines that it serviced. The location of Smith’s property was considered to be on the boundary between the Virginia and Northgate areas. Postal records indicate that Smith built his house at St Vincents Road in 1894.

On 10 April 1924, Smith subdivided his land into two allotments. He sold 9 acres, 34 perches of his land to Frederick Christopher Emmott on 10 April 1924. This left him with the house at 93 St Vincents Road, surrounded by the remaining 3 roods and 8 perches of his land. Albert Smith died on 25 July 1942, after owning the land at Virginia for 57 years. His property was inherited by Leonard William Smith who took control of the title deeds to the house on 11 March 1943. 

During World War Two, the only major changes to the area around the Smith residence was the construction, along St Vincents Road, of 13 large woolstores by the governmental Central Wool Committee in 1944. On 20 July 1945, Leonard Smith sold 93 St Vincents Road to Doris Louise Cook and her husband Harry George Cook. By 1946, there were still only eight homes built along the southern side of St Vincents Road, in the area between the new woolstores and Toombul Road. But a number of homes had been built on land behind 93 St Vincents Road in Walter and Harold streets. With the post-war housing boom, Virginia experienced an influx of new residents. To meet the demand for residential land, Doris and Harry Cook subdivided their 3 roods and 8 perches of land into four 32 perch blocks. Subdivision 3 was sold to Lewis Tonkin Oxnan and Betty Ann Oxnan on 11 March 1954. Subdivision 4 was sold to Allen David Toms on the same day. This left subdivision 1 that contained the old Smith residence and subdivision 2, both of which were sold to Alan John Keast, Thelma Doreen Keast and Rosaleen Goopy on 16 October 1981. They disposed of subdivision 2 and were issued with a new title deed for 93 St Vincents Road on 3 February 1982. 

Since the 1980s, the house has had several owners. The residence at 93 St Vincents Road, is one of only two surviving nineteenth century houses left in Virginia and as such it is important to the heritage of the local area.

1. Brisbane City Council, Properties on the Web, website, post-1946 building cards

2. Brisbane City Council, 1946 aerial photographs.

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

4. John Oxley Library, Estate Maps – Town of Nudgee Estate (1880s)

5. John Oxley Library, Suburban clippings file - Nudgee

6. Queensland Post Office Directories, 1868-1949

7. Tremayne, Jean and Pechey, Sue, Pioneers, Picnics and Pineapples, (Brisbane: A.E.B.I.S., 1994)