40 Dorset Street, Ashgrove

Until the 1880s, Ashgrove was predominantly a farming community on the outskirts of Brisbane with several large homes and country estates belonging to more affluent citizens. Several residential estates, such as the nearby Grove Estate, were auctioned during the 1880s when mass immigration saw settlement expand beyond the inner suburbs. However, Ashgrove's distance from the city centre and lack of public transport meant that these allotments sold gradually. Although Waterworks Road had been established as a thoroughfare in the mid-19th century with farmland at the Gap settled in the 1850s and the opening of Enoggera Reservoir in 1866, by 1890 there were only around a dozen residences on each side of Waterworks Road at Ashgrove. Dorset Street (originally named Brisbane Street) was a short connecting street between Ashgrove Avenue and Waterworks Road. The 1880s were a transition period in the development of Ashgrove from a rural area to a residential suburb of Brisbane.

During the 1890s, Ashgrove Avenue, initially named Serpentine Road and, later, Three Mile Scrub Road, was inhabited by farmers and middle-class residents, such as clerks and merchants. Chinese market gardens were situated at the Newmarket end of the road. It was not until the extension of the tramline to Ashgrove in 1924 which prompted the subdivision of large residential estates such as the Glenlyon Garden Estate, that Ashgrove became a well populated suburb. Prior to 1924, the closest tramline to Ashgrove Avenue was the Enoggera Road tramline which was extended to Newmarket in 1903.

The land on which the house is situated was once part of Portion 650, granted to Robert Donaldson in 1868. In 1875, the entire portion was sold to Joseph Buckle, who from 1876 subdivided the property. The first land to be sold was an area of 5 acres which was bought by Joseph Dorsett in 1876. Brisbane Street was later changed to Dorsett Street presumably because of its association with Joseph Dorsett. The spelling of the street name has since changed to Dorset.

In October 1886, James Aitken purchased an area of 1 rood of land, facing Brisbane Street. In October 1888, his wife, Clara Constance Aitken, purchased the 2 adjoining allotments to the rear, facing Ashgrove Avenue. James Aitken is first listed as residing in Brisbane Street in 1889. The land was mortgaged in July 1899 for the sum of £75. This was possibly to finance the construction of future additions to the cottage.

James Aitken, born in Dumfermline, Scotland, was employed as a clerk in Mayfair Arcade, Adelaide Street. His wife, Clara, was born in Bromsgrove, near Birmingham, England. Their first child was born in Spring Hill. Six more children would be born in the cottage in Brisbane Street. The family also fostered John Webley, a child whose mother died in childbirth, who would later live in a house on the site of the tennis court next door.

According to a sketch drawn by James and Clara's son, Noel, in 1981, the original cottage consisted of four rooms, including a kitchen with a fireplace, and a front verandah with centrally located stairs. Circa 1896, an extension was built adding a new hall and 2 bedrooms on the southern side and a bathroom and verandah with stairs to the back of the house. The front stairs were moved towards the southern end of the house.

In 1906, James Aitken bought the remaining allotments between the house and the corner of Ashgrove Avenue and Brisbane Streets. The house was extended again circa 1907. This work was possibly financed by a second mortgage in 1906 for £200. The front verandah was extended along the northern wall of the house and a new kitchen and bathroom built at the back on the northern side. The original kitchen became a bathroom. Further extensions were carried out in around 1919 when a verandah and fifth bedroom were added on the southern side of the house.

On the death of James Aitken on 14 October 1938, the title of the Aitkens' land was transferred to his widow, Clara. She continued to live in the house until her death on 26 June 1949. Ownership of the house then passed to the Aitken's unmarried daughter, Marjorie Evelyn Aitken. The house was then converted into 2 flats by the construction of a double partition through the centre of what was the original cottage. The larger flat was then rented, while Miss Aitken lived in the smaller flat. In 1975, Miss Aitken moved to a nursing home. After her death in 1983, the house was sold after almost 100 years of ownership by the Aitken family.

The house at 40 Dorset Street has since been restored to become a family residence again, and has recently been renovated by its present owners. These renovations, carried out mainly between 1995 and 1997, included restumping, rewiring, replumbing, and the replacement of verandah balustrading and most of flooring which were damaged from borers. A new deck has also been added to the rear of the house.

1. Davison, Graeme and Chris McConville, eds. A Heritage Handbook. North Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 1991

2. Documents supplied by Mrs Claire Watson, grand-daughter of James and Clara Aitken

3. Post Office Directories.

4. Titles Office Records