Addresses

At 96 Donaldson Street, Corinda, Queensland 4075

Type of place

House

Period

Interwar 1919-1939

Style

California Bungalow

This is an image of the local heritage place known as Residence

96 Donaldson Street, Corinda

96 Donaldson Street, Corinda Download Citation (pdf, 102.79 KB)

Addresses

At 96 Donaldson Street, Corinda, Queensland 4075

Type of place

House

Period

Interwar 1919-1939

Style

California Bungalow

This early California Bungalow was built in 1919 for Eric (Huck) Lahey, the son of David Lahey. The Laheys were a significant local family in the history of the district who established successful farming and sawmilling businesses across South East Queensland, including a sawmill at Corinda. This was one of several houses David Lahey built for his children using high quality timber from the family sawmilling business.

Lot plan

L2_RP29660

Key dates

Local Heritage Place Since —

Date of Citation —

Construction

Roof: Corrugated iron;
Walls: Timber

People/associations

Eric and David Lahey (Occupant)

Criterion for listing

(C) Scientific; (D) Representative; (G) Social

Interactive mapping

City Plan Interactive Mapping

Lot plan

L2_RP29660

Key dates

Local Heritage Place Since —

Date of Citation —

Construction

Roof: Corrugated iron;
Walls: Timber

People/associations

Eric and David Lahey (Occupant)

Criterion for listing

(C) Scientific; (D) Representative; (G) Social

Interactive mapping

City Plan Interactive Mapping

History

The area from Chelmer to Corinda was known as “Boyland’s Pocket” in the 1850s, Captain Boyland having leased the area in 1851. In 1860 the new Queensland Government opened up the district for selection, at a price of 1 pound per acre, resulting in the establishment of a number of farms ranging anywhere between 25 and 70 acres in size. Attempts were made by pioneer selectors during the 1860s and 1870s to produce maize, potatoes, bananas, cotton, sugar cane, and arrowroot. The opening of a railway bridge at Indooroopilly in 1876 reduced the isolation of the area, and allowed for increased subdivision. The first main building wave occurred in the 1880s, a boom period for Brisbane. However, many of the allotments sold at this time remained vacant for years, and continued to be used for small farming operations. Later waves of building, occurring after each of the World Wars, gradually reduced the amount of farmland, and new housing continues to envelop those gracious older houses which once stood on acreage, surrounded by gardens.

In 1867, three of the first pupils at the new West Oxley State School (where Sherwood State Primary is today) were the sons of Francis Lahey, who had purchased a 224 acre farm at Coopers Plains in 1862 (sold 1872). More land was obtained in 1864 at Jindalee (sold 1876), and in 1870 the Laheys purchased land at Pimpana, where they made their mark in the arrowroot industry (sold 1901). 

The youngest of Francis’ 11 children was David Lahey, who was to become involved, along with his elder brothers, in sawmilling operations at Tygum (1876), Canungra (1884) and Beaudesert (1889). One of David’s sons, Romeo Lahey, was to be instrumental in the formation of Lamington National Park, and David’s eldest daughter, Vida Lahey, was to become a well known Queensland artist.

In 1910, David started a sawmill at Corinda, independent of his brothers, in order to provide employment for his sons. Some of Brisbane’s “Dreadnought” trams were built at Corinda, along with the car ferry that operated between Chelmer and Indooroopilly before the construction of the Walter Taylor Bridge. Little remains of  the buildings from the “Brisbane Timbers Ltd” operation (later “Laheys Pty Limited”), and David’s house “Wonga Wallen”, which was built in 1912 at the junction of Clara St, Railway Tce and Collins St, Corinda, has been demolished. Between 1910 and 1912 the Lahey family leased the large “Greylands” home at Indooroopilly.

However, the Californian Bungalow at the corner of Hall Ave and Donaldson St, built in 1919 for David’s sixth child, Eric (Huck) Lahey, still exists. The house at 11 Hall St was built on 61 perches of land, from the finest timbers that this sawmilling family could obtain, as was the house at 96 Clewley St (“Red Dawn”) built around 1924-1925 for David’s ninth child Jack, and 103 Martindale St, (“Hardeen”) built 1924 for his second child Percival. 

Huck and his wife Vera owned the house at 11 Hall St until 1939. In 2003 their daughter Shirley Lahey published the book “The Laheys: Pioneer Settlers and Sawmillers”.

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

  1. Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Queensland Certificates of Title

  2. Walter Taylor South Character and Heritage Study, BCC Heritage Unit, 1997

  3. Brisbane City Council Water Supply & Sewerage Detail Plans

  4. Lahey, Shirley, The Laheys: Pioneer Settler and Sawmiller, Brisbane, 2003

  5.  “Lahey’s Corinda Connections”, Shirley Lahey, in Oxley-Chelmer Places, Patriarchs and Pastimes, Oxley-Chelmer History Group Papers I, 1999.

  6. Oxley Creek Times: Original Inhabitants .www.brisbane-stories.powerup.com.au/olxey/01_tales/03_aborigines.htm

     


Citation prepared by — Brisbane City Council (page revised June 2022)

Interwar 1919-1939
California Bungalow
House
At 96 Donaldson Street, Corinda, Queensland 4075
At 96 Donaldson Street, Corinda, Queensland 4075 L2_RP29660
Scientific, Representative, Social