Melrose Villa (former)

At the time of its construction this was the only building along this block of Brunswick Street, but by the end of the decade there were at least two shops and four households living there reflecting the growth in the valley’s population during this period.

The 1870s marked the growing sophistication, confidence and population in Fortitude Valley. This was assisted by the first cutting down of the formidable Duncan’s Hill which extended from the All Hallow’s site as far as Wickham Street, making the Valley more accessible to the town centre.

Confidence in the Valley is reflected in the fact that several substantial buildings were constructed there in the 1870s, including the Holy Trinity Church in 1871 and the grand Queensland National bank (now demolished) in 1877. Many modest buildings were also constructed in this decade. Dwellings were built to house the area’s growing permanent population and shops were built to service them.

By the mid 1880s the Valley housed a large proportion of Brisbane’s residents. It was a heterogenous area, and it was not uncommon for houses to have motor garages, factories, churches and even hotels as neighbours. Houses occupied many of the streets away from the main commercial sector centred on Brunswick, Ann and Wickham Streets. Most of these houses have been lost to redevelopment during this century.

Intense pressure for housing in the late 1870s and early 1880s prompted greedy landholders to create tiny allotments on narrow streets in Brisbane’s inner core of suburbs. It was this trend that prompted the colonial government in 1885 to pass the Undue Subdivision of Land Prevention Act which dictated a minimum allotment size of 16 perches and forbade the sale of individual units of terrace houses. This was crucial in the development of Brisbane’s built form, as it discouraged the construction of attached and semi-detached housing, a common form of housing in the southern states of Australia.

The Collett family occupied one half of this Brunswick Street terrace, and various tenants are recorded as occupying the half closest to Arthur Street, including Michael Alexander, an auctioneer and commission agent in the mid 1880s. Although working class residents were predominant in the Valley, Brunswick Street appears to have been a more middle class address. In the 1890s post office directories record the name of the building as “Melrose Villa”.

Following Henry’s death in 1899 the land passed to trustees including his widow, Emma, George Arthur Collet and George Stevens. Emma Collet continued to live here until her death in 1924, and in 1926 the property passed to Louisa Mary Tritton, wife of Joseph Walter Tritton and the building became used for rental accommodation. The present owners purchased it in 1984 and have converted it into an art gallery/studio.

1. Allom Lovell Marquis-Kyle Architects report on 16 Church Street, Fortitude Valley

2. Brisbane City Council Sewerage Detail Plan, 1924

3. Post Office Directories

4. Titles Office Records