Anzac Cottage

In September, 1915 the Anzac Cottage Trust was established in Brisbane as a sub-committee of the Queensland War Council. The committee’s objective was to acquire land for the construction of homes for the widows and dependants of enlisted men, both military and naval, killed in the war and to establish new homes on the land. The proceeds for the establishment of the cottages were funded from the profits made by the Queensland lottery “Golden Caskets”, lottery numbers three, four and five. This was an initiative of the Anzac Cottage Committee headed by Harry Coyne, MP. 

The committee was also responsible for delegating who would occupy the houses. A prerequisite for occupancy was that the widow was to be of ‘good character’, remain unmarried and respectable. The widow was to pay a small rent of 1/6 per week as well as the rates and other expenses. The land was to be held in perpetuity by the Public Curator, with the widow or dependant signing a lease. The rental paid was to fund the ongoing maintenance of the cottages. If the widow was to re-marry it was required that the cottage be vacated. 

As a reflection of the community support in the Bulimba area given to those impacted by the First World War another Anzac Cottage was built next door at 30 Stuart Street. This is important as it is rare to have two surviving Anzac Cottages in situ on adjacent blocks.   

In Brisbane thirty-eight Anzac Cottages were built, in 1917 the first one was opened in Wynnum. 32 Stuart Street is a rare surviving example of a Queensland Anzac Cottage and as such plays an important role in Brisbane’s First World War history and the impact the conflict had on the Brisbane community in this period.

1. Environmental Protection Agency Cultural Heritage Citation, “Strathern”

2. Historic Titles, Department of Natural Resources and Water

3. Queensland Post Office Directories

4. Metropolitan Water and Sewage Survey Maps, 1949