34 Devonshire Street, Ashgrove

In the 1890s, Ashgrove was still predominantly a farming community with several wealthier citizens owning large estates and villas. Although some residential estates were offered for sale in the 1880s and 1890s, they were slow to sell because of Ashgrove's distance from the city and the lack of public transport. From the late 19th century, a handful of substantial residences were built for middle class residents, particularly along the major routes of Waterworks Road and Ashgrove Avenue. It was, however, not until the extension of the Red Hill tramline to Ashgrove in 1924 that the area developed rapidly as a residential suburb.

The land on which the house is situated was part of Portion 643 (20 acres) granted to James Corcoran in 1868. This portion, bordered by Waterworks Road, Jubilee Terrace and Ithaca Creek, changed hands twice before being purchased by George Rogers Harding, a prominent Brisbane judge with extensive land holdings in the Ashgrove area. From 1889, the land was subdivided and sold as the Ashgrove East Estate.

In late 1889, Frank Russell purchased subdivision 84 (16 perches) in the Ashgrove East Estate. It was the first allotment of Portion 643 to be sold by Harding. Russell mortgaged the land in May 1890 to the Brisbane Building and Banking Company Ltd. for the sum of 50. This was possibly to finance the construction of a house. Post Office Directories record Frank Russell as living in Devonshire Street from the early 1890s.

Development in this part of Ashgrove was slow in the 19th century and during the early years of this century. Frank Russell was the first resident to be listed as living in Devonshire Street. It was the mid-1920s before a second house was built in the street, although by this time, several houses had been constructed in nearby Jubilee Terrace between Ithaca Creek and Waterworks Road.

Frank Russell lived in Devonshire Street until the 1940s. He died on 30 May 1945. The property remained in the Russell family until 1979. 

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

2. Post Office Directories

3. Titles Office Records