Addresses
Type of place
House
Period
Postwar 1945-1960
Style
Queenslander
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Residence
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Residence 1
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Residence 2
8 Rakeevan Road, Graceville
Addresses
Type of place
House
Period
Postwar 1945-1960
Style
Queenslander
This house was completed in 1946 and was constructed using an unusual system of precast concrete blocks developed by notable Brisbane builder Walter Taylor. This system was used by Taylor to construct a limited number of nearby buildings most notably the Graceville Methodist Church. The blocks were stored in bulk at his depot at 11 Rakeevan Road, almost directly opposite this house. The house is significant for its unusual system of construction and for its association with Walter Taylor.
Lot plan
L2_RP72641
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls
People/associations
Walter Taylor (Architect)Criterion for listing
(B) Rarity; (H) Historical associationInteractive mapping
Lot plan
L2_RP72641
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls
People/associations
Walter Taylor (Architect)Criterion for listing
(B) Rarity; (H) Historical associationInteractive mapping
History
Walter Taylor purchased land from Catherine Jane Bell in 1928 and 1929. In 1942 he had a new title issued for part of this land, being allotments 65 and 66, and subdivision 2 of allotment 64. In August 1944 he took out a mortgage with The Brisbane Permanent Building and Banking Company Limited, and in August 1945 he applied for a building permit on subdivision 2 of 64. In 1951 this land was purchased by Draper Elsie Matilda Bourne, who held the property until her death in 1974.
The house was built before the 1946 aerial photo series, and is constructed of prefabricated concrete blocks of Taylor’s own design. Its unusual appearance, where the blocks are laid in vertical rows, is mirrored in the construction of the neighbouring shop and residence at 335 Honour Ave.
Walter Taylor was born in Sheffield England in 1872. His family had emigrated to Australia when he was ten years old. Walter worked for the railways in Queensland until 1902 when he returned to England to market some inventions. He returned to Australia in 1912, having spent much of his time overseas studying methods of reinforced concrete construction.
In Queensland, Walter undertook construction contracts with many leading architects, building such structures as Trittons furniture warehouse at North Quay; Brisbane Newspaper Company bulk stores at William and Margaret Streets; warehouse and offices for Hooper & Harrison Ltd, G Smith Esq, Hoey Fry Ltd, and Gordon and Gotch. He also built the nine story Craigston Flats in Wickham Street; No 2 Block and the Nurses Quarters at the Brisbane General Hospital; RSL Club in Elizabeth Street; Tristram’s Aerated Water Factory at South Brisbane; and the Breakfast Creek bridge, Albion.
In his local district he constructed two residences on Austral Ave, the Central Buildings at 327 Honour Ave (which contained shops and his own office), the shop and residence at 335 Honour Ave, and a bulk store for his prefabricated concrete blocks at 11 Rakeevan Rd. He also designed and built the Graceville Methodist Church, and two homes for himself, at 15 Molonga Tce and 95 Banks Rd.
He is probably best known for the 1936 Walter Taylor suspension bridge which crosses the Brisbane River at Chelmer, which he both designed and constructed. Taylor was heavily involved in the administration of the Methodist Church in Queensland for almost fifty years, and also in community work. He was president of the Graceville Progress Association and the Indooroopilly-Chelmer Centenary Memorial Bridge League. An inventor, designer and builder, Taylor was also an accomplished bookbinder, exhibiting in Brisbane in 1924 in conjunction with Lloyd Rees.
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
-
Title deeds, Department of Natural Resources and Mines
-
Walter Taylor South Character and Heritage Study, BCC Heritage Unit, 1997
-
Brisbane City Council Water Supply and Sewerage Detail Plans
-
Brisbane City Council Department of Works Building Register 1925-1945
Citation prepared by — Brisbane City Council (page revised June 2022)