Rosecleer

By 1910 there were only a few substantial houses on large land parcels on the Northgate hill. In 1913 Emily Skyring purchased just over an acre of land on the apex of the hill. Her husband, Henry Albert Skyring had died a few years earlier. H.A. Skyring was the son of early Moreton Bay pioneer, Daniel Skyring. Henry Skyring established a series of large sawmills throughout Queensland, including in Bundaberg and Gladstone. By 1915 Emily Skyring and her three daughters were living in ‘Rosecleer’, the name they gave to their new house.

Throughout the time the family were living in ‘Rosecleer’ the Skyring family were often mentioned in the social pages of the newspapers. They contributed to the community by being involved in fundraising for various charities and causes in the area, in particular for the Red Cross during the First World War.

In 1924 ‘Rosecleer’ was featured in an article in the Architectural and Building Journal of Queensland:

Probably the most imposing home in the district is that of Mrs Skyring snr. in Love Street. This extensive, roomy residence, while not ultra modern in design, is a beautiful example of the best type of family home (The Architecture and Building Journal of Queensland, May 7, 1924, p11).

In the late 1920s the Skyrings sold much of the land surrounding the house as residential lots. Marketed as the ‘Skyring’s Estate’, the newly subdivided estate was described at the time:

The estate has been resurveyed into several superior Home sites … The situation is ideal, the land being on the highest part of Northgate fronting Ridge and Love Streets, 5 minutes from the station … with excellent views of the surrounding country” (Brisbane Courier, Saturday 1 October 1927, p29). 

In 1927 Emily Skyring died and two of her daughters remained in the house until they sold the property in 1954. Shortly after, the house was converted to flats. 

In the 1980s the house was restored and returned to a single dwelling.

The house was featured in the property pages of the Sunday Mail which described the house at the time:

The house is a true highset Queensland colonial with wide verandahs on three sides, 2.4 metre wide passageway, tongue and groove throughout and some pressed metal ceilings, all 3.6 metres high. There are two open fire places, bay casement windows and several sets of French doors. The house has five double bedrooms all with French doors leading to the open side verandah which runs the full length of the house. Only two families have owned this house. The present owners have restored it, almost to the original. The only structural change made is the addition of an extra room (Courier Mail, 31 May 1981). 

‘Rosecleer’ continues to be one of Northgate’s finest residences. The mature line of palm trees, planted in the 1970s, contribute to the house’s presence in the streetscape. ‘Rosecleer’ makes an important contribution to the character of residential Northgate and is a reflection of the early development of Northgate before the area was subdivided into smaller suburban lots. 

 

Northgate is located nine kilometres northeast of the Brisbane city centre. It has a largely residential character with pre-war and interwar residences to the elevated areas, post war homes to the lower flat areas and large pockets of industry. Love Street is a residential street which includes primarily pre-war and interwar homes, with later post-war and multi-residential infill throughout the street. Wide grassed verges with both established and younger street trees line both sides of the concrete kerbed roadway. The buildings on the street have a consistent set back and moderate width street frontages.

Set on a generous double frontage block along the quiet residential street, the residence sits centrally on the block, well elevated above the street, on the northeast side of the street. Pedestrian access is centrally located with a singular gate opening to the paver bordered concrete path leading to the front stairs. The primary vehicle access is through double gates onto a long concrete driveway along the southern side boundary to the double carport at the rear of the property. A secondary vehicle access is through double gates leading to a second driveway along the northern side boundary to a single carport. The property is fully fenced with timber picket fences to the northern and southern side fences, and a feature timber triple rail style slat fence with alternate slat detail and expressed timber posts with post detailing. 

The site is formally landscaped and features a dominant row of five established palm trees to the front fence. Border gardens line the fence lines, driveways, paths and the house, interspersed with open lawn. The rear yard has paved pathways adjacent to the house with border gardens, open lawn and screen planting to the rear, continuing to the fenced pool area in the northern corner. Paving surrounds the rock edged pool area and continues along the northern fence line to an open terrace area and further screen planting following the side fence.

The residence has a T-shaped footprint with verandahs on all sides and gable rooves to the front, to the north western side and the intermediate front western corner. The roof is clad in sheet metal, and has narrow battened eaves with ornate double bracket supports. In addition to the gablets to the main gable roof from, each separate gable has a battened flying gable, double brackets, eaves returns, ornate bargeboards and turned timber finials. The verandah roofs are separate from the main roof. A painted masonry chimney has feature banding, corbel details and flat chimney cap.

Wide timber stairs lead to the main entry which has a timber panelled door with wide coloured sidelights and fanlights over. The external walls are generally timber chamferboard, with the covered verandahs having vertical-jointed timber with exposed framing. There are timber-framed windows throughout, primarily double-hung with awnings over. The front protruding gable features a square set bay window with casement windows, bracketed roof and secondary window awning and expressed sill features. An additional square bay window is set into the front corner, located under the corner gable, and is encased by the verandah. French doors open onto verandah spaces with glazed fanlights over. Verandahs are heavily detailed with ornate turned timber columns to all upper floor verandahs, delicate bracket details and a three-rail alternate stump timber dowel balustrade. Shade blinds have been installed to the inside of the verandahs. 

A lower level has been built in under the southern axis. The details include matching chamferboards, timber framed French doors and simple timber posts continuing the rhythm of the original full length verandah above. The bay window to the gable has been duplicated at the lower level with similar detailing. The remaining subfloor area has heavy timber lattice panels between the concrete stumps. Both of the open carports have timber posts, chamfered gables with simple gable detailing referencing the original roof details.

The interiors of ‘Rosecleer’ have not been inspected.

The residence appears largely intact, even though it has undergone several alterations and additions under and around the original residence. This includes the additional lower level under the southern portion of the house containing bedrooms, the rumpus and various utility spaces. The later structures surrounding the building include a terrace, under the verandah over; a covered deck to the northern rear corner; a double carport to the south eastern portion of the site; a single carport centrally on the north western boundary and an inground pool to the rear northern corner. “Rosecleer’ appears well maintained and is in excellent condition.

1. Brisbane City Council Detail Plans

2. Brisbane City Council Surveyors Notebooks

3. Brisbane Courier, Saturday 1 October 1927, p29

4. Courier Mail, 31 May 1981

5. Department of Natural Resources, Queensland Certificate of Titles

6. Queensland Electoral Rolls

7. Queensland Post Office Directories

8. The Architecture and Building Journal of Queensland, May 7, 1924, p11