Addresses
Type of place
House
Period
Federation 1890-1914
Style
Bungalow, Queen Anne
Beaufort Hill
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Residence `Beaufort Hill'
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Residence `Beaufort Hill' 1946
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Residence `Beaufort Hill' 2009
Beaufort Hill
Addresses
Type of place
House
Period
Federation 1890-1914
Style
Bungalow, Queen Anne
Lot plan
L3_RP69185
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Timber
People/associations
Edward Albert Hawkins (Association);George Herbert Hopkins (Association)
Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (H) Historical associationInteractive mapping
Lot plan
L3_RP69185
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Timber
People/associations
Edward Albert Hawkins (Association);George Herbert Hopkins (Association)
Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (H) Historical associationInteractive mapping
History
This property was acquired in the name of Emily Hopkins, wife of Brisbane doctor George Herbert Hopkins, in April 1902. The family had moved into the residence, known as “Beaufort Hill” by June of the same year. Hopkins, who was a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, London, had emigrated to Queensland in the 1890s and took up medical practice in Brisbane. After moving to Clayfield Dr Hopkins was elected a councillor in the Hamilton Shire Council between 1903 and 1906. He was also involved in the local militia as a medical officer and for a time commanded the Moreton and later the Oxley Regiments. The Hopkins resided at “Beauforte Hill” until around 1906, and apparently leased the property during 1907.
Elizabeth Elworthy, a widow, acquired the property in August 1907 and occupied it soon after. She transferred three small allotments between 1908 and 1911, and then sold the majority of the block totalling four acres, two roods and 10 perches to a relative Edward Albert Hawkins, a grazier, in 1915. The house was rented to a variety of people until circa 1923 when Hawkins moved in.
Edward (Ted) Hawkins had a garage designed by AB Wilson and erected in 1921. The brick fence and iron gates were also designed in 1924. He subdivided a portion from the property in 1925, and then in 1928 added a tower and drawing room to the main house. This wing is believed to have been part of architect GM Addison’s home ‘Fernbrook’, and was moved to the site and attached to the original ‘Beaufort Hill’.
Hawkins, who had antiquarian interests and was a member of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, established a private museum at the house. During WWII the USAAF for a time used the tower as an observation platform, though Hawkins did not leave the property. Edward Hawkins died in 1956, and the contents of the house were auctioned in 1959. In 1961 the Trustees of the Order of the Eastern Star converted the house into a nursing home for aged women.
In 1993 when the property returned to private ownership it returned to use as a family home.
Statement of significance
Relevant assessment criteria
This is a place of local heritage significance and meets one or more of the local heritage criteria under the Heritage planning scheme policy of the Brisbane City Plan 2014. It is significant because:
References
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Brisbane Courier, 1864-1933
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The Queenslander, 1866-1939
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Courier Mail, 1933-1954
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‘Colour Study Beaufort Hill, 59 Wellington Rd, Clayfield’ Robert Riddel architect, 1993
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Garden History Society – www.gardenhistorysociety.org.au
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Queensland Post Office Directories
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Queensland Title Deeds
Citation prepared by — Brisbane City Council (page revised June 2022)