15 Moonya Street, Bardon

Photographic evidence suggests that the servants' quarters, known as the Servants' Cottage, were constructed in the grounds of Old Government House during the 1870s. In 1884, an extension comprising 4 rooms was added to one side. The cottage provided accommodation for the hall porter and his family as well as 5 bedrooms for male servants and 4 bedrooms for female servants. In 1909, the Queensland Government was seeking a new governor's residence. Fernberg, a mansion at Bardon, was leased as a temporary residence and the Governor and his staff moved to their new premises in 1910. The Servants' Cottage was cut into sections and transported to Fernberg, where it was reassembled as two separate buildings. The larger of the two buildings became the Office, and the remaining section of 4 rooms and a verandah became servants' quarters once more. In 1918, the Office was enlarged by removing the front verandah and extending the bay window.

Fernberg remained a temporary Governor's residence until 1938 when plans were made for major additions to the main house. Fernberg was then accepted as a permanent Government House. In 1949, a new Auxiliary Building was constructed, replacing the timber office that had been transported from Old Government House. The timber office, which had been purchased by the Queensland Housing Commission in July 1946, was moved to Moonya Street, Bardon sometime between 1946 and 1949. According to a former resident, the building was positioned in two separate sections on adjacent lots 84 (15 Moonya Street) and 85 (17 Moonya Street). The section of the building at 17 Moonya Street underwent alterations soon after it was divided. The verandah on the western side of 15 Moonya Street was enclosed by the Campbell-Stewart family who resided in the house from around 1949 to 1961. During this time, the title deed of the property remained with the Queensland Housing Commission.

In 1961, the house at 15 Moonya Street was sold to well-known Brisbane television personality Ronald Brady. Brady was one of the earliest presenters of the 7pm news on ABQ2 (now the ABC) which commenced broadcasting in 1959. Ron Brady and his wife, Karen, sold 15 Moonya Street in 1970. The house was extended by the subsequent owner in 1973. In 1975, the house changed hands again. Further major extensions to the rear of the house including a two-storey bay window and verandah were carried out in 1980 at a cost of $35 000.  These additions won a Housing Industry Association award. The house was sold again in 1984. 

In 1985, the present owners of 15 Moonya Street, who had also purchased 17 Moonya Street, rejoined the two sections of the building. This was accomplished by removing a room previously added to the front of 17 Moonya Street and rotating the house 90o anticlockwise.  As 17 Moonya Street had lost its original roof, special ribbed iron roofing was constructed to match the original roof on no. 15. 

Although this house has been moved twice and altered on several occasions, it retains its special heritage significance as a building that has strong associations with both Old Government House and the present Government House.

1. Brisbane City Council Building Card MO46-061-010

2. Beck, Christopher. On Air: 25 Years of TV in Queensland. Brisbane: One Tree Hill Publishing, 1984

3. Courier-Mail, 1984.

4. Heritage Buildings Group, Queensland Administrative Services Department for the Office of the Governor. Government House Brisbane Conservation Plan. 1993

5. Ray White (Ashgrove) Auction advertisement, 15 Moonya Street. 1984

6. Titles Office Records

7. National Trust of Queensland. Old Government House files