Maritimo

Post-World War One, the local area had become known as Norman Park as it was a popular riverside picnic spot reached by crossing Norman Creek. Norman Park was still largely farmland, with Tom Like’s leather goods factory in Macrossan Avenue being the only secondary industry in the suburb. But the riverfront land of Norman Park was more developed as people sought to build homes that had views of the Brisbane River. A newspaper article described the river’s influence on Norman Park: 

“The Brisbane River is at once the crowning glory, the enduring charm, the chief asset, and the most exasperating bugbear of Balmoral and its neighbouring suburbs- Norman Park,… “1

On 7 November 1924, Subdivision 3 plus resubdivision A of Subdivion 2, both part of Block ‘C’ of Portion 5A were sold to master builder (licence number 2078) George Henry Turner. This is the site on which the residence, now known as ‘Martimo’, was constructed. George Turner was a builder and contractor. He was born 4 February 1887. He was educated at the Normal school in Fortitude Valley and in his early teens he moved to Redcliffe for the sea air to aid his poor health. He lived with his uncle who was a local storekeeper, undertaker and builder. George Henry Turner learnt the builder’s trade from his uncle.

On 27 November 1912, George H. Turner married Annie Davis. They were to have three sons. Turner commenced his building trade c1916 when one his first contracts was the construction of St. Lawrence’s Presbytery in South Brisbane. He built a home in Vulture Street in East Brisbane for his parents and his two maiden sisters plus the neighbouring residence ‘Fairville’ that was his and Annie’s home. He was residing at ‘Fairville’ at the time of purchase. In 1924, he commenced work on ‘Nazareth House’ at 272 Wynnum North Road in Wynnum. The first part of ‘Nazareth House’ to be constructed was the ‘Old Ladies’ Section.  In 1925, George Turner had been paid ₤44,200 as the building contractor for ‘Nazareth House’. He went on to build the ‘Old Mens’ Section, the laundry, the swimming pool and in 1938, the Convent and Chapel. He did major building work for the Brisbane Municipal (later City) Council. In 1921, Turner constructed the Light Street Tram Depot at Newstead and from 1926-28 he built the New Farm Powerhouse, which was the first modern powerhouse built for the Council. 

In 1924, George Henry Turner had purchased a block comprising 2 roods and 11 perches of land that fronted New Cleveland Road (later renamed Wynnum Road) and ran downhill to the banks of the Brisbane River. It was to be the site of a new home for the Turner family. The Brisbane architect firm of Hall and Prentice were hired to design the Turner home.  

Thomas Ramsey Hall was born in Brisbane in 1879. George Gray Prentice was born in Brisbane in 1891. Hall was employed in partnership firm of Francis R. Hall (his half-brother) and prominent architect Robin Dods from 1903-07. Prentice became an articled pupil of T.R. Hall and was still employed by Hall in 1917. In 1919, they formed the partnership of Hall and Prentice Architects. The firm continued until 1929. Among the prominent buildings designed by Hall and Prentice were Brisbane City Hall, the OK Building, the Tattersall’s Club, the Kodak Building (demolished) and Ascot Chambers (demolished).

For George Turner, Hall and Prentice used the popular California Bungalow style, incorporating brick, arcading, hardwood floors, maple wood panelling and a terracotta tiled roof. The house included a number of features that had come into vogue in Brisbane during the Interwar period. “A two car garage was a prominent feature of the design, as were several garden structures.”1 George Henry Turner was the builder of his own home. 

Hall & Prentice’s choice of design both matched the surrounding house styles and added to the picturesque view of Norman Park as seen from passing boats and ferries on the Brisbane River. A contemporary newspaper article noted:

“The appearance of Norman Park is enhanced by groups of charming homes of this type [inset photograph of a Californian Bungalow style house]. From the riverside, they present a charming picture.”1

Sometimes referred to as Spanish Mission style, it was widely popular in Queensland during the 1920s and 1930s. Its public popularity was attributed to “a mixture of the imported and local magazines, the growing influence of Hollywood films and publicity releases on the homes of the stars and finally, the search by the [Australian] architectural profession for an appropriate domestic style.”1 Turner’s new home made full use of its views of the Brisbane River. A private jetty was built on the riverbank while a large tennis court overlooked the river.

Turner is first listed as a resident of New Cleveland Road, Norman Park in the 1926 edition of The Queensland Post Office Directories. As these directories were surveyed the year prior to publication then the Turner residence would have been completed in 1925. This was the year (in May) that the tramline was extended to Balmoral so that Turner’s new home had the convenience of trams running past it along New Cleveland Road. The arrival of the tramline brought a building boom to the surrounding parts of Norman Park. A Brisbane City Council sewerage map from 1936 marks Turner’s residence as ‘Fairville’. He had transferred the house name from his Vulture Street, East Brisbane residence to his new Norman Park home.

‘Fairville’ featured a downstairs ballroom. During World War II, the family made camouflage nets in the ballroom. Its rear verandah provided views of New Farm Park and of the construction and completion of his New Farm Powerhouse project. But for George Henry Turner, the most enjoyable feature of his new home was its tennis court. His son Jack recalls that his father:

“…was also a keen tennis player and only bought the land at Norman Park because the land was suitable to build a court and not as some people think for river views…”1

‘Fairville’ was one of the first large private homes to be connected to the domestic electricity grid. Electricity provided lighting for Turner’s games of night tennis. But the tennis court lights caused trouble for shipping on the Brisbane River. So, at night, a ship’s captain would blow the boat’s whistle to signal to Turner to switch off the court’s lights to enable the captain to navigate the channel. Because of its impressive lighting and his link to the New Farm Powerhouse, ‘Fairville’ was chosen by the Brisbane City Council to illustrate its Electricity Supply Department’s Deferred Payment Wiring System – brighten your home brochure distributed to Brisbane householders to encourage the domestic use of electrical power. In 1927, Turner put on a full night time lighting display at ‘Fairville’ to welcome the yacht carrying the Duke and Duchess of York (Prince Albert and Princess Elizabeth) on their Royal Visit to Brisbane.

Eventually George H. Turner’s sons [George Henry (junior) born 1913, Ronald Gordon born 1918, John (Jack) Wesley born 1923)] joined him in the building trade so that his business was renamed G. H. Turner & Sons Builders. By 1930, the firm had won contracts to build Morrison House and the Plumridge (Sweets) Building in Barry Parade, Fortitude Valley. During World War II (1939-45), he contracted with four other builders to construct barracks for the Army at Redbank and barracks for the RAAF at the Archerfield aerodrome.

Although a Methodist, George Henry Turner developed a lasting friendship with the Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, James Duhig. As a result, Turner did much construction work for the Catholic Church. Apart from ‘Nazareth House, in 1939, he built a three-storey convent building behind the Mater Hospital in South Brisbane. Between 1940-46, he built the kitchen, operating theatre, intermediate wards and pathology unit of the Mater’s public hospital. He added classrooms, dormitories, the Domestic Science Block and the junior School to All Hallows School in Fortitude Valley. Two buildings for the Catholic school at Darra, the installation of a lift at St. Pius XII Seminary at Banyo plus alterations to ‘Wynberg’ (the Catholic Archbishop’s residence), All Hallows, St Bridget’s Convent at Kangaroo Point, St Mary’s at Ipswich. St Vincent’s Orphanage at Nudgee and four Palm Beach flats for nuns were all undertaken by G. H. Turner & Sons Builders. Archbishop Duhig called George Henry Turner “his Methodist Builder”.1

In 1937, the property received was designated as No.114 New Cleveland Road, Norman Park. New Cleveland Road changed its name to Wynnum Road by the 1939 edition of The Queensland Post Office Directories.  By 1946, this section of Norman Park was well developed, though the Interwar private hospital located between Turner’s home and the large residence ‘Wahroonga’ had gone. A small part of the property frontage was resumed by the Brisbane City Council for the widening of Wynnum Road in 1958.     

In later years, G. H. Turner & Sons Builders concentrated mainly on renovations. Work was completed on the McRobertsons Building, the MIN Building and Perry House in the City. One of his last contracts was the construction of the Oliver Plunkett Church at Cannon Hill. George Henry Turner died on 5 September 1970. He is buried at Balmoral Cemetery “on a hill spot he chose himself because he thought that it had the best view.”1 On 30 November 1972, ownership of the property passed to three family members – Ronald Gordon Turner, John Wesley Turner and George Henry Turner. John Wesley Turner and George Henry Turner became the sole owners on 10 May 1993. 

Later that year the property left the hands of the Turner family. John Maxwell Garnsworthy and Jacqueline Garnsworthy became the new owners on 21 July 1993. They renamed it ‘Maritimo’ after John Garnsworthy’s (now demolished) family home in Melbourne. The Garnsworthys had architect Helen Josephson to undertake alterations and renovations to ‘Maritimo’, particularly its upper storey.  Among the alterations were two dormer windows that were added to the top floor.

In 1994, this residence was featured in the book The Queensland House – a roof over our heads where it was described as:

“The mature development of the Bungalow style is demonstrated in this first-class house designed by Hall & Prentice and built by a master builder for his own use.”1

From the 1970s, many of the properties that neighbour ‘Maritimo’ have been altered through re-subdivisions to allow late twentieth century ‘mansions’ to be built along the river. The properties have been further altered by the inclusion of easements to allow vehicular access to these new riverfront properties. ‘Maritimo’ remains one of the few Interwar Norman Park homes built along Wynnum Road that has retained its access to the Brisbane River.

1. The Suburban Development of Brisbane No. VIII – Balmoral District’s River Settings – Area Only in Infancy of its Settlement”, Brisbane Courier (possibly), c1930

2. Rod Fisher & Brian Crozier, The Queensland House – a roof over our heads, (Brisbane: Queensland Museum, 1994), p.57

3. The Suburban Development of Brisbane No. VIII – Balmoral District’s River Settings – Area Only in Infancy of its Settlement”, Brisbane Courier (possibly), c1930

4. Peter Cuffley, Australian Houses of the Twenties & Thirties, (Knoxfield: The Five Mile Press, 1989), p. .37

5. Jenny Turner, The Life and Work of George Henry Turner, additional comments by John (Jack) Turner

6. Ibid

7. Jenny Turner, The Life and Work of George Henry Turner

8. Rod Fisher & Brian Crozier, The Queensland House – a roof over our heads, (Brisbane: Queensland Museum, 1994), p.57

9. Australian Electoral Rolls: 1903, 1905, 1913, 1919, 1925

10. Brisbane City Council, aerial photographs for 1946, 2001 and 2005

11. Brisbane City Council, post-1946 Building Cards

12. Brisbane City Council, Properties on the Web, Applications/Site History

13. Brisbane City Council, Sewerage Map No. 873, 17 February 1934

14. Cuffley, Peter, Australian Houses of the Twenties and Thirties, The Five Mile Press Pty Ltd, 1989

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

16. Environmental Protection Agency, ‘Nazareth House’ citation, http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/chims/placeDetail.html;jsessionid=7f00000130d5cab468ea1f9045caabc3ac2d6431e14d.e34NaN8SbNyKci0SbNqRch0LaNb0n6jAmljGr5XDqQLvpAe?siteId=16154

17. Fisher, Rod & Crozier Brian, The Queensland House – a roof over our heads, (Brisbane: Queensland Museum, 1994)

18. John Oxley Library, Picture Queensland website, photograph collection

19. Master Builders Association of Queensland, information supplied to the Heritage Unit on 18 September 2009

20. Queensland Post Office Directories, 1868-1949

21. "Once a picnic spot”, The Telegraph, 2 October 1978

22. "Remarkable Changes”, The Telegraph, 18 October 1979

23. Royal Australian Institute of Architects (Queensland), Buildings of Queensland, Brisbane, Jacaranda Press, 1959

24. Turner, Jack, 11 Turner family black & white photographs of ‘Fairville’

25. Jenny Turner, The Life and Work of George Henry Turner

26. Watson, Donald and Judith McKay. A Directory of Queensland Architects to 1940. (St. Lucia: U of Q Press, 1984)

27. Unknown, The Suburban Development of Brisbane – Balmoral District’s River Settings – Area Only In Infancy Of Its Settlement

28. http://www.ancestry.com.au/?o_iid=22129&o_lid=22129

29. http://judaicia.library,usyd.edu.au/histories/Central/ZA06.pdf