Addresses
Type of place
House
Period
Victorian 1860-1890
Style
Queenslander
This is an image of the local heritage place known as Residence 'Lanark'
Lanark
Addresses
Type of place
House
Period
Victorian 1860-1890
Style
Queenslander
This house was built around 1882 for Mary Ann and Jonas Noble who established the J.A. Noble and Co. ironmongers business. An attractive villa on high ground, it was built on a subdivision of a larger estate from the 1860s. In the interwar period the property was purchased by Lewis McDonald. McDonald was an important figure in Queensland’s political history in the interwar period organizing a number of political and social welfare campaigns. In the postwar period, when housing was in short supply, the villa was divided into four flats.
Also known as
The Ironmonger's House
Lot plan
L19_RP11724; L18_RP11724
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Timber
People/associations
Lewis McDonald (Occupant)Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (E) Aesthetic; (H) Historical associationInteractive mapping
Also known as
The Ironmonger's House
Lot plan
L19_RP11724; L18_RP11724
Key dates
Local Heritage Place Since —
Date of Citation —
Construction
Roof: Corrugated iron;Walls: Timber
People/associations
Lewis McDonald (Occupant)Criterion for listing
(A) Historical; (E) Aesthetic; (H) Historical associationInteractive mapping
History
This house was built circa 1882 for Mary Ann and Jonas A. Noble, who purchased the 36 perch subdivision in 1878. Mortgages taken over the property in 1879, 1884 and 1888 may have funded improvements or been used to build up Noble’s ironmonger’s business. A partnership with Benjamin Brookes was dissolved in 1891 and Jonas Noble established his own business. J.A. Noble & Co. Ltd was registered in 1902 as ironmongers, dealers in machinery, implements and hardware of all kinds.
The house remained the home of the Noble family until 1920 when Lewis McDonald purchased the property. An important figure in Queensland political history Lewis McDonald was associated with both the political and industrial arms of the Labour Movement from 1904 until his death in 1936. He was secretary of the Queensland Central Executive for 26 years, organiser of a number of campaigns including the anticonscription campaigns during the First World War, a founding member of the Workers Educational Movement in Queensland, and one of the first Labour members appointed to the Queensland Legislative Council, who engineered its dissolution in 1922. It was the McDonald family who named the house ‘Lanark’ after Lewis McDonald’s birthplace, Lanarkshire in Scotland.
From 1949 McDonald’s widow, Alexandra McDonald converted the house to tenements for 4 persons. The McDonald heirs, Neil, Lauren and Andrew McDonald continued that use of the house following their mother’s death in 1957. They sold the house in 1979. An extension to the rear was approved in 2006.
Description
The residence is an example of an 19th Century house. Being asymmetrical in design it appears to have a transverse corrugated iron gable roof with a street-facing gable extension left of the house. The exterior walls are clad in horizontal chamfer boards.
The dwelling is high-set and is raised above ground level on square posts and vertical timber battening. The verandah runs along the front face of the house and has a separate roof supported by square timber posts with Union Jack style balustrading, typical of 19th Century houses. The street-facing gable is decorated with a bargeboard and ventilation slats are located below.
Several large trees behind a simple picket fence grace the front garden and make an important contribution to the house and the streetscape of Westbourne Street.
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 City Council Water Supply and Sewerage Detail Plans
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Department of Natural Resources, Queensland Certificates of title and other records.
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JOL Estate Map Collection and photographic collection
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Queensland. Post Office Directories
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Queensland newspapers. 1876 – 1936 http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper
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Watson, Donald and Judith McKay. Queensland Architects of the 19th Century: A Biographical Dictionary. Brisbane: Queensland Museum, 1994
Citation prepared by — Brisbane City Council (page revised September 2020)