Mecklenburg's Cottage

In the subsequent land sale, German migrant Johannes Diefenbach bought subdivision 21. He took ownership of the block on 30 April 1888. Diefenbach held onto the vacant block for only four years, before disposing of it to fellow German, Wilhelm Meckelburg (also spelt Mecklenburg) on 26 July 1893. Meckelburg mortgaged the land through a ₤40 loan arranged with Peter Fosteron 2 August 1893. It is possible that this loan, which was repayable on 1 July 1895, was used by Meckelburg to fund the building of his residence in Temple Street. The first mention of a Mecklenburg living in Temple Street is in the 1895-96 edition of the Queensland Post Office Directories. As the information for this annual directory was compiled during the year prior to publication, then it can be assumed that the house at 149 Temple Street was built during 1894.

Wilhelm Meckelburg was a boot finisher by trade. A family member John William Meckelburg, who was a bootmaker, also lived at the Temple Street residence. Another family member, Max Meckelburg, who was also a bootmaker, lived nearby in Milsom Street. On 13 November 1907, Meckelburg took out a second mortgage on his property. Jane Pryor and her husband Thomas lent Meckelburg ₤100 that was repayable by 2 November 1910.

Just two days after the outbreak of the First World War, on 6 August 1914, Meckelburg died. His house and land passed to his widow Rosa Anna Meckelburg. When Rosa died on 18 March 1921, the property was inherited by Friederick Max Meckelburg. The property passed briefly from the hand s of the Meckelburg family on 17 February 1930, when it was sold to William Wendland. Wendland had little influence over the residence at 149 Temple Street, for he died on 8 September 1930.  Louisa Anna Meckelburg acquired the family home on 5 March 1931. After her death on 26 July 1943, her estate passed to the control of the state Public Curator’s Office. 

On 24 September 1944, Martin John Burke bought 149 Temple Street from the state government. His control of the property was only short-lived for Burke died on 5 August 1950. His widow, Martha Annie Burke became the sole owner but within three years, she disposed of Meckelburg’s house. On 27 October 1953, Arthur Milligean and his wife Lily Violet May Milligean became the new owners of this house and land. On the settlement date, the Milligeans mortgaged their purchase through Martha Burke. It is assumed then that she loaned the Milligeans the money they needed to buy her property.

The Milligeans bought 149 Temple Street as an investment property but they quickly disposed of it to Sylvia Maude Woodhouse. Woodhouse took ownership on 9 December 1953, held the property for five years before selling it to Jane Alice Hacking. After Hacking’s death on 4 April 1975, the old house passed to her son Walter. Timothy Maurice Collins, using a loan from the Bank of New South Wales (Now Westpac), bought the property from Hacking on 4 July 1977. Collins, in turn, disposed of the property to Bethwyn Rosemary Humphrey on 7 July 1980. They mortgaged the property twice before transferring ownership to Jacqueline Doris Pettigrew and Neville Stuart Pettigrew on 18 November 1988. During their two years as owners, the Pettigrews took out two mortgages on the house and land. Peter Anderson McGlasson and Maxine Kinbacker became the new owners on 16 January 1991. Again utilising its investment potential, they mortgaged it twice before selling the property to Hedley Christopher Thomas on 17 February 1992. The current owners, Paul Alan Whittaker and Katie Diana Whittaker, took control of 149 Temple Street on 30 June 1999. This former residence of the Meckelburg Family, is one of the few surviving nineteenth century buildings left in Coorparoo.

1. Brisbane City Council, Properties on the Web, website, post-1946 building cards

2. Brisbane City Council, 1946 aerial photographs.

3. Brisbane City Council’s Central Library, local history sheets

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

5. John Oxley Library, Brisbane Suburbs – Estate Maps

6. Queensland Government, Queensland Pioneers Index 1829-1889, (Brisbane: Department of Justice and Attorney General, 2000)

7. Queensland Post Office Directories, 1868-1949