Delamore (former)

‘Delamore’ was built circa 1888 just before the downturn in the economy took hold. Somerset’s residence was possibly designed by architect Alfred Robert Linus Wright. It is known that tenders for the building were called, in November 1887, by the architectural firm of FF Holmes where Wright was working at the time. 

According to a reference in The Queenslander, Henry’s wife Sarah gave birth to a son on 6 September 1889 at ‘Delamore’. It has been suggested that Somerset was following a family tradition in building ‘Delamore’. His parents, Daniel and Dora Somerset, who emigrated from Belfast, built a succession of grand homes in Brisbane, including ‘Oakwal’ in 1859, ‘St Johns Wood’ in 1864 and ‘Rosemount’ in 1885. 

Somerset road was named after Henry St John Somerset. However, the Somerset family did not remain for long at ‘Delamore’, probably due to the Queensland National Bank foreclosing on their mortgage in 1892.  The property was transferred to the bank in August 1892 without the mortgage being released. A contributing factor for Somerset’s financial difficulties may well have been that it coincided with the State’s economic depression.

W E Parry-Okeden and family subsequently rented the house, presumably from the National Bank, from about 1900-1912. The residence reflected the social prominence of William Parry-Okeden, who had an illustrious public service career in Queensland. After a varied career in law and pastoralism, including terms as a Police Magistrate at Cunnamulla, Charleville and Gayndah, Parry-Okeden was appointed Principal Under Secretary of Queensland and then in 1895, Police Commissioner.

The Parry-Okedens lived in great style at ‘Delamore’ with a retinue of servants to care for the family and guests. The marriages of their daughters in St Andrew’s Church, Lutwyche and the well-publicised receptions at ‘Delamore’ in the local press highlighted the social standing of the Parry-Okedens in the Brisbane community at the time.
 
The last and longest residing private resident was Howard Robbins, a herbalist who was listed in the Post Office Directories at this address from 1913 to 1936. The Robbins family rented the house from the National Bank of Queensland for a number of years before buying it in 1920. The property was transferred to Daisy Lucinda Robbins, wife of George Arthur Howard Robbins, in October 1920. Two mortgages were taken out in her name with the National Bank of Australasia. The first one was in 1920 for 2,500 pounds, with the second one in 1926. The property was transferred to the Institute of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in March 1939.

According to one source, ‘Delamore’ was reputedly purchased by the Franciscan Sisters for use as a novitiate house in 1935. As Robbins apparently did not want to sell ‘Delamore’ to the Catholic Church, he asked the exorbitant price of ₤13,000 for the house and 4.45 hectares of land. Using an intermediary instead, the Sisters were able to purchase the property for only ₤4,500 but did not officially become the deed holders until 1939 because of problems in transferring the title. 'Delamore' was renovated and officially opened as a novitiate house by His Grace Archbishop Duhig on 19 March 1939.  An extract in More Historic Homes of Brisbane quotes Sister Mary Agnella saying:

…For years we had looked longingly at the beautiful house and grounds of ‘Delamore’ which were right beside us at Kedron … 

The Missionary Sisters have made a significant contribution to education and aged care during their long association with ‘Delamore’, a period spanning nearly 70 years. Mount Alvernia, the girls’ secondary school, opened in 1956 in the convent house (Delamore) to provide Catholic education in the northern suburbs. The property has been refurbished in recent years as a community centre with retirement units. 

This is a ‘grand’ house with striking features such as the front elevation central ‘tower’ (widow’s walk) above the entrance hall. Access to this was once via a cast iron spiral staircase (since removed). 

The house is said to retain also some of its striking internal features such as its original doors with deep red etched lights.

1. Brisbane City Council’s Central Library, local history sheets

2. Department of Natural Resources, Queensland Certificates of Title and other records

3. Queensland Post Office Directories 1913-1938

4. Royle, M., Northern Suburbs Heritage Tour, Brisbane History Group, 1993

5. Summer, Ray, More Historic Homes of Brisbane, National Trust of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 1982

6. Teague, DR., The History of Kedron, Colonial Press, 1976

7. Donald Watson and Judith McKay, Queensland Architects of the Nineteenth Century, South Brisbane: Queensland Museum, 1994