Addresses

At 188 Clarence Road, Indooroopilly, Queensland 4068

Type of place

House

Period

Victorian 1860-1890

Style

Queenslander

188 Clarence Road, Indooroopilly

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

188 Clarence Road, Indooroopilly

188 Clarence Road, Indooroopilly Download Citation (pdf, 532.49 KB)

Addresses

At 188 Clarence Road, Indooroopilly, Queensland 4068

Type of place

House

Period

Victorian 1860-1890

Style

Queenslander

This large residence was built circa 1888 for notable architect Henry Hunter who was also responsible for its design. It’s construction and design is representative of the diverse residential development of Indooroopilly that occurred during the late nineteenth century and the desirability of the area among professional middle class residents. Henry’s son Walter obtained title to the property only a couple of years later, renting it out to various tenants for more than 20 years. Since he sold the house in 1919, it has had a number of different owners.

Lot plan

L4_RP78790

Key dates

Local Heritage Place Since —

Date of Citation —

Construction

Walls: Corrugated iron;
 Walls: Timber

People/associations

Henry G. Hunter (Architect)

Criterion for listing

(A) Historical; (E) Aesthetic; (H) Historical association

Interactive mapping

City Plan Interactive Mapping

Lot plan

L4_RP78790

Key dates

Local Heritage Place Since —

Date of Citation —

Construction

Walls: Corrugated iron;
 Walls: Timber

People/associations

Henry G. Hunter (Architect)

Criterion for listing

(A) Historical; (E) Aesthetic; (H) Historical association

Interactive mapping

City Plan Interactive Mapping

History

The land for this property was purchased from a subdivision, which was offered for sale from the late 1870s by Henry May. May purchased two roods and two perches. In 1887 he unsold the property to the eventual builder of the house architect Henry Hunter.

English born Henry Hunter had moved to Queensland from Tasmania, reputedly because a combination of an economic downturn in Tasmania and his own personal health reasons. Hunter reputedly ‘came to dominate the local architectural scene’ in Hobart and its environs, designing many buildings which includes the Tasmanian Museum, Art Gallery, the Town Hall and St Helen’s Hospital.1 He had practised in Hobart for over 30 years.

While previously holding many distinguished positions in Tasmania, which included serving on the Tasmanian Board of Education (1875-84), Central Board of Health (1866-88) and on the Council of Education as an examiner in drawing, Henry Hunter helped in the formation of the Queensland Institute of Architects and served as president in 1890-91.

Upon his arrival in Queensland Hunter formed a partnership with his son Walter and  L.G Corrie. The partnership was dissolved in March 1892. Hunter then formed a partnership with his son Walter that lasted until his death in October 1892.

The house was obviously constructed shortly after Hunter’s arrival in Queensland. The firm Hunter and Corrie, during the short time of its existence, were quite successful. Their work included the Brisbane Stock Exchange, Queensland Deposit Bank (cnr Albert and Adelaide Streets, Brisbane) and additions to All Hallows Convent at Petrie Bight. 

At the time of construction of Hunter’s residence Brisbane had been experiencing a land and building boom which by c.1888 was reaching its peak. By c.1889-90 the boom had turned to bust and this hailed the onset of a depression which lasted well into the 1890s. Locally Indooroopilly was being described as

A suburban village, four miles distant from Brisbane, with which it is connected by railway.1

Other statistics provide an indication that the Indooroopilly had developed during this boom period of the 1880s. The railway provided daily transport allowing workers to commute to their place of work. The rateable properties were 4,000 in number while there were 1200 ratepayers on the roll. 650 dwellings were said to exist and the area had population of 3000.

Walter Hunter only practised as an architect for a short period before moving to Camboon. Apparently Walter ventured into farming, first at Camboon, before relocating Dalby. The 1900 Post Office Directory (POD) discloses Walter Hunter as a Justice of the Peace.

Walter Hunter had actually acquired the property, prior to his father’s death, in February 1892. At the time of purchase he took at a mortgage of 700/-/-. Even though Walter Hunter had left Brisbane he retained ownership of the residence, preferring to rent the property out. Among those who rented the property were the future owners Trevor and Marjory Fowler who purchased the property from Hunter in 1919. During the following years the house had a number of owners. It is highly probable that Hunter Street took its name from the Hunter family.

Description

This is an impressive traditional Queensland style house, which has a prominence in the streetscape of Clarence Road.

Originally this house had a front yard extending to Lambert Rd. As evidenced by the front stairs and door on the northern side of the house, now accessed down the northern side boundary from Clarence Rd. What was designed as the side of the house fronts Clarence Rd. and the rear of the house is visible from Hunter St. It is an indication of the generosity of the original design that the Clarence Rd. Elevation of the house is still impressive. The extension of the western veranda into an octagonal rotunda on the northern corner of the house is of particular note.

This house features paired veranda posts with lattice infill and a criss-cross balustrade, moderately unusual features for a house of this period in Brisbane, especially as they are combined with a single plane of roof from the ridge to the veranda edge.  These features seem to give weight to the idea, contained in the history of this house, of a Tasmanian architect experimenting with local building vernacular on his arrival in Brisbane.

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:

Historical

Criterion A

The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of the city's or local area’s history

as a substantial residence constructed at Indooroopilly during the late nineteenth century.

Aesthetic

Criterion E

The place is important because of its aesthetic significance

as an interesting example of an architect-designed late nineteenth century house.

Historical association

Criterion H

The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organization of importance in the city’s or local area’s history

as an example of the domestic work of notable Tasmanian, and later Brisbane, architect Henry Hunter.

References

  1. Donald Watson, and Judith McKay. Queensland Architects of the 19th Century: A Biographical Dictionary. (Brisbane: Qld Museum, 1994). p.101

  2. Post Office Directory. 1889. p.60A

  3. Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol.4. 1851 - 1890. D - J. pp. 448-450

  4. Brisbane City Council Water Supply and Sewerage Detail Plans

  5. Department of Natural Resources, Queensland Certificates of Title and other records, Environmental Protection Agency

  6. Fisher, Rod & Crozier, Brian. The Queensland House: A Roof Over Our Heads. (Brisbane: Queensland. 1994)

  7. 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)

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Victorian 1860-1890
Queenslander
House
At 188 Clarence Road, Indooroopilly, Queensland 4068
At 188 Clarence Road, Indooroopilly, Queensland 4068 L4_RP78790
Historical, Aesthetic, Historical association