Toowoomba Heritage Houses

The Federation Heritage Housing of Toowoomba, Queensland

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See also the post Toowoomba Federation Heritage See also Wikipedia page List of sites on the Queensland Heritage Register in Toowoomba

Apsley in Toowoomba's eastern suburbs, a home that provides a wonderful example of the city's early 20th century grandeur. The home was built in 1908 by William John Munro, reportedly named after Apsley Falls in New South Wales where he had honeymooned. William Munro lived at “Apsley” until his death in 1968.“Apsley” was built in the style of the large early house in Toowoomba. With a wide front verandah, a central hallway with decorative arches, polished timber floors, 12-foot ceilings, casement windows and VJ walls, it typifies the homes that well-to-do Toowoomba citizens built at this time. That style extends to the large front and side gardens, and the tennis court at the rear.[1]

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Come and join us at Toowoomba Open House

Toowoomba Open House celebrates our local historic attractions, innovative architectural design and clever adaptive reuse of heritage treasures with buildings such as the Empire Theatre, City Hall, Vacy Hall, St Luke’s Church and the Masonic Centre open free to the public. Toowoomba Open House is a free-of-charge event that invites visitors to opens the doors of public and private buildings and places of architectural, historical and/or environmental significance. The event has run successfully in Brisbane for four years, Maryborough for two years and for many years in various international cities including London, New York, Dublin and Melbourne to name a few. Festival of Architecture every October

Name	Registration Type	Street Name	Town / Suburb
Ascot House Ascot House is significant as one of the largest and most elaborate of all the grand residences of Toowoomba. Ascot follows the pattern of the construction of substantial houses on the Downs, demonstrating the development of the Darling Downs from a sparsely populated pastoral region to one of prosperity. Ascot House is significant for its association with American troops stationed at the house in World War Two. Ascot House is also associated with the work of Harry Marks, who designed the 1890s folly, probably the most recognised architectural feature of the house and significant for its rarity amongst such residences. Ascot House is significant for its association with prominent Toowoomba architect William Hodgen, who designed 1899 alterations to the stable and kitchen. Ascot House is associated with Frederick Holberton and William Beit Jnr, son of William Beit Snr, the Westbrook squatter. Ascot House is also associated with the work of Harry Marks, who designed the 1890s folly, probably the most recognised architectural feature of the house and significant for its rarity amongst such residences. History History Ascot House, a single-storey timber residence with an attached two-storeyed timber extension, referred to as a folly, has been called the largest and most extensive of the grand Toowoomba residences. While the exact construction date is unknown, Ascot was possibly built in the 1870s as a private residence for Frederick Hurrell Holberton, a Toowoomba storekeeper and later Member of the Legislative Council. The architect of Ascot house remains unknown. When built, the house stood on about 32 acres of land near the Toowoomba racecourse. The grounds of Ascot contained a glasshouse, stables, croquet greens, tennis courts and extensive gardens, which included trees and shrubs bought from overseas. The Trustees Quarterly Review, April 1912 states that: Queensland Trustees Limited, as attorneys for Mr William Beit, also placed on the market the beautiful house and park lands known as "Ascot", and though the house property itself failed to find a purchase, the remainder of the estate found great favour with the public, and the whole lot was sold at the auction sale from 275 to 450 pounds per acre. Ascot was sold to Frederick Ernest Bennett in 1915, and has subsequently had a number of owners, being used for flats for many years. Articles in the Courier-Mail dated 21 March 1985, claim that American troops were stationed at Ascot House during World War Two.[1] The property has been progressively subdivided from the original 32 acres and it now stands on just over 2 acres of land. The house also suffered from the effects of vandalism during the 1970s. The current owner purchased Ascot House in 1984. Following extensive renovations, the two-storeyed extension of Ascot House, Beits' Folly, was opened as a tea room and house museum in 1994.	State Heritage	15 Newmarket Street It is thought that William Beit named the house Ascot, reputedly because of his interest in horse racing.  In the 1890s, Beit added a two-storeyed extension with a large billiard room, designed by Harry Marks to the original U-shaped house. The extension was a very elaborate design, suggestive of the superstructure of a ship, and was known as Beit's Folly. See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascot_House Beit was reputed to have had a distinctly artistic temperament which was reflected in the buildings he owned. The folly has become the distinctive architectural characteristic associated with Ascot House. The architect of the "folly", Harry Marks, was a prominent Toowoomba architect noted for his highly creative work. Harry Marks was born in Toowoomba in 1871. After training under his father, architect James Marks, Harry entered into partnership with him in 1892 and spent his entire career in Toowoomba.	TOOWOOMBA
Boyce Estate and Gardens The Boyce Gardens Estate is a Heritage listed jewel in the crown of the University of Queensland. The vision for the future of this gem is to engage and educate the community and students for generations to come. Located in Toowoomba, the Garden City, the Gardens are extremely well placed to attract local, national and international attention from plant enthusiast and researchers. The house was built and the Boyces moved in after their wedding on April 29, 1930. They lived and gardened here for the rest of their lives, and after their deaths (Margaret in 1984 and Leslie in 1988) their ashes were scattered in the garden. A favourite project was the restoration and preservation of the remnant of indigenous rainforest in the north-east corner of the property. After all the exotics were removed a canopy of only 12 metres high remained. The Boyces set about reintroducing indigenous trees, shrubs, vines and ferns. They also installed a rain-like watering system, which was quite ahead of its time. Today the forest canopy is more than 30 metres high and watering is not needed since the natural ecology is restored. In May 1969, Mr and Mrs Boyce gifted the estate to the University of Queensland to hold the land in trust in perpetuity for educational purposes and to preserve and maintain the gardens and forest for the education of the public. The Boyce Gardens Estate is now a Heritage listed jewel in the crown of the University of Queensland. It has been and will be used to engage and educate the community and students for generations to come. Built: 1929 and onwards Website: www.uq.edu.au/boycegardens Open: 9:00am to 4:00pm Tours: General access (self-guided tours)		6 Range Street This magnificent park, covering six hectares, was established as a private garden by leading Toowoomba citizens Leslie and Margaret Boyce over a period of sixty years and was given in trust to the University of Queensland in 1969. Shortly after they became engaged in 1929, Margaret Hall and Leslie Boyce bought around six hectares of land on what was then the north eastern outskirt of Toowoomba. Margaret designed the house site, drive and surrounding terraces and the land was remoulded by carefully removing the topsoil and spreading it back over the shaped terraces. The house was built and the Boyces moved in after their wedding on April 29, 1930. They lived and gardened here for the rest of their lives and after their deaths their ashes were scattered in the garden. Over the years the couple established a sunken garden (now the White Garden), a terraced flower garden, a western walk and shrubbery, a walled garden, lawns, rockeries and a thriving fruit and vegetable garden. Margaret experimented with new species, trying dozens of varieties of daffodils, iris and lilies. As she kept careful records, her experiments are of great value to Toowoomba gardeners. The Boyces also collected many plants on their trips abroad. The Gardens attract local, national and international attention from plant enthusiasts and researchers. University of Queensland continues to improve and expand the gardens, installing underground water storage tanks to drought-proof the estate in 2010.
Redlands Concordia College Administration Centre Redlands, a two-storeyed brick building, is located on a level site facing a formal garden and is approached via a long avenue of mature pine trees to the north. The building has a U-shaped hipped corrugated iron roof with a central valley, paired eave brackets and verandahs on the east, north and west with unlined curved corrugated iron awnings. The symmetrical north elevation has a projecting double storeyed porch, with a flight of stone steps, surmounted by a cross. The verandahs have timber posts with cast iron balustrade, brackets and valance.  The northeast and northwest corners of the ground floor verandahs have decorative coloured glass and pressed metal screens and infill panels. The building has flemish bond brickwork with painted quoining, step-out sash bay windows on the ground floor and a central arched entry to the north with stained glass fanlight and sidelights. The first floor also has a central entry of french doors with stained glass inserts, featuring painted birds, fanlight and sidelights. The south elevation has been cement rendered. The “Pear Shape” garden still in existence at the front of the building was created by Edmund Wilcox, as was the impressive driveway which he lined with Norfolk and Bunya pines. The old stables, outhouses, orchard, tennis court, dairy, windmill, garages, paddocks and a brick well, however, are all gone. The ‘Redlands’ building is the historic centrepiece of Concordia Lutheran College and is set amidst spacious grounds and a heritage listed garden. This grand old lady with her wrought iron petticoats has many stories to tell. Internally, the building has a central hall with a carved cedar staircase at the south. The ground floor has rendered walls, elaborate pressed metal ceilings of varying designs and cedar joinery. The northwest room has a black marble fireplace surround with hand painted tiles depicting birds. The northeast room has a white marble fireplace surround and other rooms have carved timber surrounds, all with painted tiles. The foyer has an arched internal doorway with patterned glass fanlight and sidelights. The first floor has papered walls, panelled or boarded ceilings and cedar joinery. The formal garden to the north forms a turning circle and consists of a central fountain, flagpole, hedge border, garden beds in the form of the school's initials and areas of lawn. A covered path links the building to a more recent classroom and staff block immediately to the south. Other school buildings built since the late 1950s, predominantly of two-storeyed brick, are built to the east, south and west. Playing fields are located either side of the entrance drive to the north, leaving the building's northern outlook open.	State Heritage, Register of the National Estate	154 Stephen Street See also Wikipedia: Redlands, a two-storeyed brick residence, was designed by Toowoomba architect James Marks and built by Henry Andrews in 1889 for Edmund Wilcox, a merchant and prominent citizen of Toowoomba.  Redlands was originally built on about 28 acres of land near the Drayton Road, approximately 1½ miles from Toowoomba. Wilcox received his early business training with the firm of Messrs Cribb and Foote of Ipswich and with Holberton's of Toowoomba. Later, Wilcox together with his brother Robert founded the firm Wilcox Brothers merchants, located in Ruthven Street for a number of years. Wilcox Brothers eventually sold out to Messrs Laidlaw and Peak.  The foundations of Redlands are reputedly of local bluestone, the bricks supplied by the local brick and tile company, the glass by Exton and Gough of Brisbane, and the iron railing for the balcony and cresting by the Toowoomba Foundry Company. Redlands is said to still have the original corrugated iron roof which was imported from England and which bears the stamp of its producer on every sheet. The avenue of Norfolk and Bunya pines lining the approach to Redlands was planted when the house was constructed. It is thought that Wilcox also created the "teardrop" garden at the front of the building, complete with fountain, at around the same time. The original fountain has since been replaced. In 1919, some time after his retirement, Wilcox sold Redlands to Dr Alexander Horn. In 1921 Redlands was sold to Mr Edward Farmer, a grazier. In 1945 the Lutheran Church resolved to purchase Redlands from Farmer's widow, for a sum of approximately £5 000. In 1946 Redlands was dedicated as Concordia College, a co-educational Lutheran Boarding School. Since the establishment of Concordia College, Redlands has served a number of purposes including a residence for the first Headmaster and his family, offices and other uses associated with the College. A major building program commenced in the 1960's with the addition of several school buildings in the grounds of the College. Redlands is presently used as the central administration block for the College.	TOOWOOMBA
Bishop's House Bishop's House, designed by Henry Marks, was constructed in 1911 as the home of Toowoomba businessman, William Charles Peak. In 1939 the house was purchased by the Roman Catholic Church and became home to the Bishop of the recently created Toowoomba Diocese. In about 1910 as a reflection of his importance in the local community, WC Peak commissioned local architect Henry J Marks to design a house, initially known as Kilallah, for the Peak family at the corner of Lindsay and Margaret Streets, Toowoomba, adjacent to Queen's Park. Henry Marks was a member of a prominent Toowoomba architectural family. James Marks, Henry's father, arrived in Queensland from England in 1866 and practised as an architect and builder in Dalby before starting his successful family practice in Toowoomba in the 1870s which remained active until 1962. Henry joined his father in practice in 1892 when the business became known as James Marks and Son.  Henry Marks was an innovative and creative architect, who invented and patented several products including pot-bellied ventilation flues and chimney shafts, windows and a walling system. He employed his inventions on many of his buildings and this helps to identify the buildings for which he was responsible. Several of these innovations are found at Kilallah, now known as the Bishop's House, including window openings and chimney stacks.  Marks designed windows which allowed maximum opening capacity and also directed airflow around the opening. The windows designed for the end bays of the Bishop's House were extendable casements. Also on the house were several of Marks' patented design for "Improved Chimney Top and Ventilator" introducing a rounded base to the shaft of the chimney top directing air flow and with a V-shaped catchment plate and run-off for rainwater.	State Heritage	73 Margaret Street Bishop's House, located opposite Queen's Park on the corner of Lindsay Street fronting Margaret Street to the south, is a single-storeyed masonry building with rendered quoining and detailing.  The building has a corrugated iron roof with projecting gables, a central clerestory surmounted by a cross, and three HJ Marks patented pot bellied chimney stacks.  The symmetrical south elevation has a central enclosed loggia consisting of five arches with rendered voussoirs, keystones and columns, supporting a parapet wall surmounted by two small triangular projections either side of a central gable with the name BISHOP'S HOUSE in raised lettering.  The loggia is flanked by projecting bays at either end, and is enclosed with arched sash window units and masonry panels on the western side, and sliding aluminium window units on the eastern side of the entry. The central entry has steps leading to a timber door with leadlight panel insert, sidelights and fanlight depicting a crest.  The projecting bays have sash windows, but evidence of the original HJ Marks patented extendable casement windows is visible. The bays are surmounted by projecting boarded gables, above which are semi-circular windows with rendered voussoirs in the gable to the roof.	TOOWOOMBA
Chiselhurst Kindergarten Once a substantial family home fronting MacKenzie Street this building has been home to Chiselhurst Kindergarten in Stonehaven Street for almost 50 years and holds happy memories for many a Toowoomba resident. Address: 12 Stonehaven Street, Toowoomba		12 Stonehaven Street,	TOOWOOMBA
Elphin 'Elphin', a pastoralist's town house in Anzac Avenue, is listed on the Queensland heritage register. A heritage-listed villa at 24 Anzac Avenue, Newtown,Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1907 to 1907. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 July 2000. Elphin is a large low-set timber house designed by Toowoomba architect William Hodgen in 1907 for Andrew Crombie. Elphin is an excellent example of a large Toowoomba timber home that was designed by prominent architect William Hodgen. William Hodgen tended to employ a Free style, modifying the prevailing Queensland vernacular by introducing individualist elements. His English experiences are reflected in the classicist detailing of entrance pediments using timber, joinery and internal fittings. His Toowoomba works include Kensington, Tor, Austral Hall, Glennie School (Ascot House) and Flour mill. He was also responsible for buildings in Brisbane and other parts of the state such as the Allora grandstand, OakeyPost Office, Jondaryn Queensland National Bank, Hotel Corones, Charleville. Hodgen designed an L-shaped house; the front core had a 9 foot 6 inches wide veranda on three sides.	State Heritage	24 Anzac Avenue, See also Wikipedia Elphin on tree lined Anzac Avenue, Toowoomba, is large low-set single storey residence designed by prolific Toowoomba architect William Hodgen for Longreach pastoralist Andrew Crombie and his wife Ellen in 1907.[1] Either side of the 8-foot entrance hall was the main bedroom and drawing room. The drawing room and dining room shared a fireplace as did the master and second bedroom. Between the second and third bedrooms was a bay-windowed workroom, these rooms overlooked the side garden. Another bedroom, bathroom and boxroom were at the rear and opened off an internal central passageway. The 15-foot wide service wing stretching out behind the house contained the pantry, kitchen and laundry, extending of this was a storeroom and servant's room. The house cost £1,236/19/3.	NEWTOWN
Gladstone House and Cottage Designed by prominent Toowoomba architect HJ Marks as his private residence, Gladstone House and Cottage, erected c1908, display an individual inventiveness and creativity typical of Marks' work in their design. Gladstone House includes examples of the AUSTRAL window designed and patented by Marks. The buildings possess highly articulated geometry in plan, elevation and roof form, containing many design elements associated with Marks' work, and reflecting many of his design considerations including the use of natural light and ventilation. Gladstone House, a single-storeyed weatherboard residence with a multi-hipped corrugated iron roof and timber stumps with batten infill, is located on a northerly sloping site fronting Gladstone Street to the east. The building has a 1970s split-level addition at the rear. The strong geometry of the building is reflected in the cruciform plan, consisting of a central octagonal living room with three bedrooms projecting to the northwest, northeast and southeast, and a dining room to the southwest. The inside corner of each projecting wing is infilled with a triangular shaped room, with the main entry to the east, bathroom to the south, bedroom to the north, and originally an open deck to the west which has been enclosed and extended to create a kitchen. The 1970s split-level addition is attached to the west of the kitchen. Each projecting wing has a hipped roof with finial, the infill rooms have skillion roofs, and the central octagonal room has hipped dormer skylights to the north, east and south, and a central look-out which was originally accessed via a western stair which is no longer extant. The skylights have centrally pivoted hopper widows, and a pot-bellied rendered chimney stack is located above the southwest wing. 3 Gladstone Street, Newtown Henry (Harry) James Marks (1871—1939) was an architect inToowoomba, Queensland, Australia. He was the architect of numerous buildings, many now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. Harry Marks was considered a creative designer and was responsible for many buildings on the Darling Downs as well as two Roman Catholic Churches in Brisbane. During his career he invented and patented numerous ventilators, reversible casement windows and a method of stucco construction. He continued the practice into the 20th century and his son Charles Beresford Marks became a partner in 1925.In 1925 he became an Associate of the Queensland Institute of Architects, becoming a Fellow 1929. The RAIA Queensland chapter now awards an annual Harry Marks award for Sustainable Architecture.	State Heritage	1B, 3 Gladstone Street Sold for $690,000 **Sold Date:** Sat 08-Mar-14 Erected in the early 20th century, in a then outer part of Toowoomba [previously Gowrie Shire], Gladstone House survives as evidence of the growth and residential expansion of Toowoomba from this time, as formerly large estates and farms were subdivided and sold. Born and trained in Toowoomba, Harry Marks had entered into partnership with his father James, in 1892. James had commenced practice as an architect in Toowoomba by the early 1880s, and he and Harry have been described as dominating the architectural profession for more than half a century. Although Harry Marks was responsible for designing a number of buildings on both the Darling Downs and in Brisbane, much of his work was in Toowoomba where he designed a variety of buildings including Rodway [600868], St James Parish Hall [600856], St Luke's Church Hall [600866], additions to the Toowoomba Maltings [600852], and the Darling Downs Co-operative Bacon Factory. Marks was also described as being gifted with inventive genius, and he devised and patented a number of architectural elements, including roof ventilators, windows and a method of stucco wall construction. Marks incorporated examples of his inventions in the design of St Rest, triangular bay windows and the AUSTRAL window which he designed reputedly for the house. James Marks set up as an architect at Toowoomba in 1880. In the late 1880s his eldest son Henry James Marks (1870-1939) trained with him. The firm became James Marks & Son in 1892—the second son Reginald John (1877-1918) was to join the practice after James's retirement. James Marks's reputation and technical competence was complemented by Harry's inventive ingenuity and flair. Unlike James's mostly conventional work, Harry's was unconventional, uninhibited and idiosyncratic; many of the firm's admired buildings (such as St James's church hall, additions to the Toowoomba Maltings and Alexandra Hall) were his designs. Evident in these were construction and climatic innovations that Harry patented, including his Austral windows, which were widely used in the United States of America in the 1920s. Harry also designed St Luke's church hall (1901), featuring Byzantine-like cupolas, cruciform decoration and ventilating gables. According to Janet Hogan, 'the clerestory lighting, the heavy timber detailing to the entrance portico and the triple casement windows with the curious balance of flat head and ornate sill all contribute to form a . . . fascinating structure'. Marks incorporated examples of his inventions in the design of St Rest, triangular bay windows and the AUSTRAL window which he designed reputedly for the house. The Shire of Newtown was formed in 1913, from part of the Gowrie Shire area. Marks was an alderman on the Newtown Council from 1913 until 1917, when it was absorbed into the Toowoomba City area. Following Marks' death in 1939, Katharine remained at Gladstone House and commenced subdividing the grounds of Gladstone House during the 1940s. The land on which the Cottage stands was transferred to Marks' daughter KM Muir, in 1951. Katharine died in 1954, and her son Charles Beresford Marks, also a Toowoomba architect, was appointed trustee of the property.	TOOWOOMBA
**Gowrie House** Also known as “Largo”, the Mayes’ family home, still stands. Built after the Toowoomba Town Hall in 1900, it is located on the corner of Mary and Arthur Streets and is now “Gowrie House”, a hostel for girls. Gowrie House, a large low-set brick building designed by prominent Toowoomba architect HJ Marks for leading building contractor Alexander Mayes circa 1901. Mayes was a Mayor of Toowoomba and active in community organisations. Gowrie House is significant for its association with both these Toowoomba identities. Renamed Gowrie House, after Lady Gowrie the wife of the Australian Governor General, the site became the Toowoomba Young Women's Christian Association hostel. Mayor JD Annand officially opened it on 10 November 1945 as a hostel for young working and service girls.[1[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gowrie_House#cite_note-qhr-1|]]] The Toowoomba Chronicle of 12 November 1945 described the new hostel, saying how it was ideally situated on an acre of ground with mature shady trees and turf lawn and "should provide a happy atmosphere for many students and Service girls away from home". The solid brick house had a central hall off, which were four spacious rooms with fireplaces and large windows and doors which opened onto wide verandahs. These large rooms with cedar-framed windows, doors and mantle pieces had been converted into dormitories sleeping four to six girls. The veranda on the northern side had also been converted into a dormitory, just off this sleepout was "the bathroom with gas heater, set-in basin, bath and shower". Of three smaller rooms one would be used for the matron and the others for dressing rooms. At the end of the hall was a huge cedar-panelled dining room with eight tables each seating six girls. Facing east it opened onto a fernery and side garden. The staff room, servery and well-equipped kitchen opened off the south side of the dining room.	State Heritage,  Register of the National Estate	112 Mary Street The low-set brick house, Largo, on the corner of Arthur and Mary Street was designed by Harry Marks for prominent Toowoomba businessman Alexander Mayes and built probably in 1901, and definitely by 1902.[1] Architect Harry Marks was born and trained in Toowoomba and he and his father James Marks have been described as dominating the architectural profession for more than half a century. While Harry Marks designed a number of buildings on the Darling Downs and in Brisbane, most of his work was in Toowoomba.	TOOWOOMBA
Kensington Kensington, 126 Russell St - Built in the early 1900s and renovated for a legal firm, the property has many features including metal work on the ridge of the roof and landscaping appropriate to the design of the house. Kensington is a large, low-set, timber building at 126 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba. Toowoomba architect William Hodgen Junior designed Kensington in 1897 for successful draper George Pitlow Merry. Purchased in the early 1990s by a legal firm, Victorian architect Jack Clark was responsible for the refurbishment of the house and extension at the rear to create a building suitable for usage as a professional office.  William Hodgen established his Toowoomba practice with an advertisement in the Darling Downs Gazette of 6 February 1897 announcing he was a new Toowoomba architect. Growth and development in both Toowoomba and the Downs and his own efficient work meant he soon had a busy and successful practice. While trained in Queensland, his London experiences and knowledge of the Arts and Crafts movement and Edwardian Classicism were expressed in some of his buildings. However, he tended to employ a Free style, modifying the prevailing Queensland vernacular by introducing individualist elements. His English experiences are reflected in the classicist detailing of entrance pediments using timber, joinery and internal fittings.  Hodgen designed Kensington as a large timber residence of eight rooms costing £1,035. It was a variation on Hodgen's standard cottage plan with corner bay windows that were articulated in the form of the roof, the side elevations with a gable over the dining room bay window and secondary entrance and a box roof over the core. His design also included a butler's pantry, servery and outbuildings.	State Heritage	126 Russell Street See also Wikipedia: Kensington is a single storey timber building located on a large block of land facing Russell Street, Toowoomba. Kensington has a symmetrical front facade that combines Classical Revival and Arts and Crafts motifs. A central gabled entrance separates a pair of semi-octagonal corner bay widows that project above the roof.  The steeply pitched corrugated iron hip roof rises to a widows walk which features a finial at corners and cast iron lace. This roof capping is repeated for bays and side gable. Tall chimneys are symmetrically placed. While low-set it has a 'hit-and-miss' brick subfloor. Simple wide concrete steps lead up to a carefully detailed entrance bay, with the classical-style pediment resting on an arch supported by posts. The wide verandah, which wraps around to both sides, is edged with cast iron lace. Simple unadorned posts support the convex verandah roof that is stepped down from the superior roof with its pairs of brackets supporting the guttering. The eastern elevation has a projecting gable for the side entrance.	TOOWOOMBA
Oak Lodge and Spreydon Pupils and staff of Spreydon College, ca.1914 Oak Lodge and Spreydon were erected in the 1890s as a single residence, commissioned by successful Toowoomba businessman Robert Walker Filshie and designed either by his partner in the Toowoomba timber merchandising firm of Filshie Broadfoot & Co., architect James Marks, or by the firm of James Marks and Son. About 1923 the large building was converted into two detached residences on adjoining allotments. As a place, Oak Lodge and Spreydon survive as evidence of the growth and residential expansion of Toowoomba, an important regional centre, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.	State Heritage	7 Warra Street & 30 Rome Street Oak Lodge  Oak Lodge is a substantial, single storeyed timber dwelling designed in a picturesque style, located on a large block at the corner of Warra and Rome Streets, Newtown, a suburb of Toowoomba. The dwelling is asymmetrical in form, with a steeply pitched roof, from which wide gables project on the main elevation and on the eastern side of the building. A corner bay window is carried through into the main roof and is expressed as a chamfered hip. Two tall brick chimneys protrude through the corrugated iron roof and the main section of the roof is capped with cast-iron ridge decoration. A short set of unbalustraded stairs leads to a wide verandah that wraps around to the northern elevation. The verandah is edged with a three-rail dowel balustrade and has a bullnose roof stepped-down from the main roof. The verandah porch is decorated with angular timber members in a pattern of triangles. This stick-style detailing is repeated on the main gable, which is decorated with an angular pattern of timbers which are held by brackets from the gable and barge boards. Under the gable is a bay window with a curved awning which is supported on large decorative timber brackets. The mature Silky Oak tree [Grevillea robusta] from which the house derives its name still dominates the front corner, while mature and recent plantings around the house add to its the streetscape contribution. Spreydon Spreydon is a low-set, single storeyed timber dwelling facing north on a large block in Rome Street, Newtown, adjacent to but around the corner from, Oak Lodge. The dwelling is asymmetrical in plan and form with a wide gable to the front and back projecting from a high-pitched roof. Single fretwork brackets support the roof either side on the front gable and eastern elevation. Above a bay in the front gable a rectangular box rises, decorated with timber stick infill. The bay has windows and doors opening onto a narrow bullnosed-roofed verandah which follows the shape of the bay.  The skillion-roofed side and back verandahs are stepped down from the main roof and are enclosed with narrow weatherboards and glazing. Either side of the front entrance porch are windows. That on the east is an 1890s double hung sash window with convex roof supported by fretwork brackets. The window on the west is a 1920s style rectangular bay window with hipped roof. Wide steps lead to the arched porch and recessed front door. Side and fanlights frame the low-waisted four-panel front door. The front door opens into a passageway one room deep, from which, on the right, a door opens into a small front 1920s room. At the end of the passageway a door on the left opens into an arched, internal vestibule from which doors open to the large 1890s front room on the left, to the adjoining 1890s front bedroom on the north side of the vestibule, to the back verandah, and to a large 1920s room on the right. Dividing this space is a solid timber archway with central pendant. On the rear verandah side there is a skylight. Internally all walls are lined in timber boarding, with the most complex timber detailing being found in the front gabled room [1890s construction]. Moulding above the dado, and framing the fireplace, door and windows, is intricate as are the deep cornices. The cedar corner fireplace has tiles surrounding the iron cob. The box-like bay window, which opens onto a small verandah, has two hinged doors either side of a central window and is surmounted by fanlights. The 1890s vertically-jointed timber tongue and groove walls of the passageway and vestibule have a moulded belt rail and cornice that is repeated in the small front bedroom while the southern wall contains French doors with timber and glass panels on either side delineated by a chamfered doorframe. The eastern and northern 1920s walls have no mouldings. The 1920s long back bedroom has been converted into a stairwell and smaller bedroom with the roof space made over into an attic by the insertion of two rooms, both of which have new dormer windows.	NEWTOWN
Rodway Rodway is a single-storeyed chamferboard residence with a corrugated iron hipped roof and projecting north gable. The building, located on the Toowoomba Range, is situated on a south sloping site, overlooking the Brisbane Valley to the southeast, with a border of mature camphor laurel trees to the west boundary and Norfolk pines to the north.	State Heritage,  Register of the National Estate	2 South Street Rodway is a single storeyed timber house erected c1904 for John Long to the design of architect Harry Marks on a 40 acre site on the Toowoomba Range.  The site was acquired by Long, a hotel keeper, in 1896. He had previously commissioned Marks' father, James Marks in 1885 to design the Imperial Hotel in Ruthven Street, which Long operated for a number of years.  In 1910, the property was acquired by grazier, John Oliver Frith and his wife Annie Peek Frith as a town residence. Frith lived in semi-retirement but maintained his Augathella property, Toolmaree Station. Renamed Rodway after his birthplace in Somersetshire in England, the house was described as one of the most picturesque and beautiful homes in the vicinity of the city. A gabled north projecting dining room bay may have been undertaken by Frith, and was certainly in existence by 1919. Interior alterations to the dining room may also have been carried out at this time. It is thought that the kitchen wing was added after 1904. There are verandahs to the south, east, northeast and northwest, and a kitchen wing and an attached enclosed tankstand to the west. The south and northwest verandahs have been enclosed, and the building has timber stumps with batten panel infill, except to the kitchen wing which has a brick base enclosing a laundry and store. There are three brick chimneys, of which the eastern two are cement rendered.	TOOWOOMBA
St James Parish Hall St James Parish Hall - Taylor Memorial Institute - Toowoomba Clubhouse A picturesque example of the Arts and Crafts style, this charming Church Hall features many of architect Harry Marks’ trademark technical innovations including the use of his patented ‘hollow wall’ construction technique, extendable casement windows and pot-bellied roof ventilators. Built: 1912; Architects: Harry Marks Open: 10:00am to 4:00pm Tours: General access (self-guided tours) and rolling tours 20 minute guided tours (20mins) also available on the hour. Bookings required dan@toowoombaclubhouse.org.au As well as its connection to the Marks’ family, the building has a special association with the Hon. James Taylor, who played a prominent role in the early development of Toowoomba.	State Heritage	112 Russell Street The appearance of the hall is influenced by ‘arts and crafts’ design, with its steep terracotta tiled roof, projecting gables, stucco rendered exterior with brick base, stylised signage, and decorative timberwork to the north-east porch. Internally, diagonal boarding is used as a decorative feature on ceilings and in door and partition wall panels. The Taylor Memorial Institute (also known as St James Parish Hall) was built in 1912, opposite St James Church (1868) in Russell Street. James Taylor donated the land and building as a memorial to his parents the Hon James Taylor and his wife Sarah, who had donated the land for St James Church to the Parish some 45 years earlier. The hall was dedicated by the Rev St Clair Donaldson Archbishop of Brisbane ‘as a memorial institute for St James’ parish’ and opened on St James’ Day 1912. The building was built by a H. Andrews, and designed by prominent local architect Harry Marks (son of architect James Marks), and features some of his famous and unusual details. One of these is his patented ‘hollow wall’ construction technique which was developed to  provide the appearance of a solid wall at lower cost.  Another is his ‘extendable casement windows’ which are specially designed to provide directional ventilation by pivoting the glazing out from the wall. Sadly not many of these original windows survive. Since 1996 the building has been leased to the Toowoomba Clubhouse, who added the modern kitchen facilities. The hall was reroofed in 2008 with support from an Environmental Protection Agency grant.	TOOWOOMBA
St Lukes Church Hall St Luke's Church Hall, constructed in 1911, is a large, single-storey building, designed by H.J. (Harry) Marks of the prominent family of Toowoomba architects. It forms part of a church precinct at the corner of Herries and Ruthven Street. The site is part of a continuing tradition of Anglican worship established during the first years of European settlement on the Darling Downs. St Luke's hall stands at the corner of Herries and Ruthven Street to the south of the church and parallel to it. It is an unusual building and has a number of Marks trademark features and innovations including the use of extensive provision for light and ventilation, a patented construction method and flamboyant decoration. The hall is single storey and is 80' long and 40' wide with a plan suggestive of that of a church, having a nave and side aisles. There are bays at each end which are flanked by pairs of gable roofed porches. The foundations are brick and the building is constructed of cement applied over chicken wire on a timber framework. This technique was also used by Marks for the Taylor Memorial Institute at St James' Church and the main building at the Glennie School, both contemporary with this hall.	State Heritage	152 Herries Street In 1891, because of the growth of Toowoomba, St Luke's was established as a Parochial District and a new incumbent was appointed by the Bishop. The Reverend T. St. J. P. Pughe immediately set out to raise funds for a more suitable church. Plans were commissioned from Diocesan Architect J.H. Buckeridge for a stone church in 1892 and the new building was dedicated in February 1897. The provision new parish hall had become urgent by 1908 and a venue to conduct classes for primary school children was also needed. A building committee was appointed and by August 1909, architect Harry Marks had submitted plans for a building which would act as both a hall and primary school, the drawings for which were carried in the October Parish Paper. Tenders were called in January 1910 and subsequently, a contract was signed by H. Andrews for the sum of £1436. H.J. (Harry) Marks was one of a remarkable family firm of architects which had a lasting effect on the appearance of Toowoomba, being responsible for a large number of public, private and commercial buildings.	TOOWOOMBA
Toowoomba Hospital The Toowoomba General Hospital was established on its present James Street site in 1880 as the third site of a public hospital in the city and its second permanent home. The Hospital has been altered since its establishment with major phases of development in the 1890s-1910s; 1950s-1960s and more recently in the late 1990s.  Two buildings remain extant from the 19th century and several remain from the early part of this century. It is these earlier buildings that comprise the focus of this report.	State Heritage	Pechey Street The early buildings on the site were designed by colonial architect, FDG Stanley and included a large two storeyed complex with four wards each containing 16 beds. Attached to this main block by covered ways was a two storeyed kitchen and laundry wing. The buildings constructed at this time were face brick with pointed arched sandstone detailing, in the manner of many of Stanley's other large public buildings including the Roma Street Railway Station and the Government Printing Office in William Street. Of the buildings designed by Stanley at the Toowoomba Hospital only the kitchen wing remains. The hospital was ready for opening in 1880. Staff accommodation and a medical superintendent's residence was erected in 1889 and a Victoria Wing was added to the principal ward building in 1899 for a cost of £2250, designed by local architect, William Hodgen. An operating theatre designed by James Marks and Son was added in 1907. These buildings are not extant. Henry Marks, from James Marks and Son also designed a small decorative morgue at the western end of the hospital in 1896. it was not until the construction of this building that the morgue services were removed from the original hospital site in Ruthven Street.	TOOWOOMBA
Toowoomba Railway Station Toowoomba Railway Station Platform & Honour Board The present building was opened on 26 October 1874 and was completely renovated in 1998/9. It is constructed in a classical revival style using Murphy's Creek stone. The station was the centre of trade in Toowoomba for many years, governors and royalty travelled to Toowoomba by train. Combining the oldest extant masonry railway station in Queensland, designed by FDG Stanley c1874, the Honour Roll, a rare example of a memorial element crafted in railway workshops, and extensive intact yard structures which can be viewed safely from the platform this is a place not to be missed. Built: 1867 (station), 1874 (main station building), 1902 (Railway Refreshment Room Wing), 1915 (Tea Room Extension), 1918 (Honour Roll Pavilion) Architect: FDG Stanley Open: 10:00am to 4:00pm Tours: Rolling guided tours A magnificent honour board at the north end of the station pays tribute to the role of local railway workers in the first World War. The board itself was made at the North Ipswich railway workshops and unveiled by former Toowoomba railwayman, Commissioner Charles Evans. The station is now home to cafe ‘Platform 9’. The Honour Roll is a rare and finely crafted example of a memorial crafted in railway workshops.	State Heritage	Russell Street The complex comprises the main station building (1874), Railway Refreshment Room Wing (1902), Tea Room Extension (1915) and Honour Roll Pavilion (1918), as well as the platform, canopies, outbuildings and yard structures. It also includes two WW2 air raid shelters. The main station building consists of two-storey rendered brick buildings with hipped roofs, surrounded by single-storey ancillary buildings, predominantly in timber with pitched corrugated iron roofs.. Toowoomba Railway station, designed by the colonial architect FDG Stanley, built by R Godsall of Toowoomba, and opened in 1874, was the first masonry station building to be constructed in rural Queensland, and replaced an earlier station building on the site. A new Railway Refreshment Room Wing was completed in 1902, replacing the original smaller dining room. This was further extended in the 1920s, and the Tea Room added in 1915. The platforms and canopies were also extended around this time, and a wrought-iron overbridge provided (since relocated).	TOOWOOMBA
Tor Hodgen's first work on the site was in April 1903 when tenders were called for fencing. Sketch plans were prepared for the house before the end of February 1904 and tenders closed a fortnight later. John Sweeney's tender for £1,095 was accepted and a contract signed on 7 April 1904. Subsequent changes were made and further sketches were drawn. The extras for the changes (£53.4.0) was accepted on 6 June 1904 and the alterations added to the original contract drawings. By July, the roof framing was fixed. While construction was proceeding, Hodgen had continued negotiations with his Aunt regarding many aspects of the house including, colour schemes and wall paper, as well as her requests for changes in window placements, verandah posts and mantles.	State Heritage, Register of the National Estate	396 Tor Street Tor, a single storey timber residence, was constructed in 1904 for Mrs Frederick Hurrell Holberton.  The residence was designed by Toowoomba architect, William Hodgen, Mrs Holberton's nephew and built by John Sweeney. At one point in a letter on 1 July 1904, Hodgen requests that his Aunt '...leave this to me to choose the best design I can for the money...'. Despite his efforts to please his Aunt, Hodgen was unsuccessful. At the end of August 1904, she humiliated him on the site and he requested that someone else supervise the completion of the house.  Their dispute may have been resolved as she paid full fees for his services in December that year (5% on the contract sum of £1020.18.0). The dining room, drawing room and hall were all built with tongue and groove pine boarding which was then stamped with pressed metal ceilings. A pressed metal ceiling was also placed in the first bedroom. The foundations of the chimneys and hearths, carried up to the underscore of the metal plates, were constructed using blue stone set with lime mortar. The inner and outer hearths of all the fireplaces were laid with salt glazed bricks.	TOOWOOMBA
Unara Unara, a substantial timber residence built in c.1906 is significant for its strong association with Sir Littleton Groom who was a prominent figure in the Darling Downs for more than 30 years.  For many years, he was the most senior Queensland conservative politician in the Commonwealth Parliament during its first decades and was well known at both state and federal level.	State Heritage	9-13 Tourist Road Unara is a substantial timber residence built in c.1906 for Sir Littleton Groom and prominently located at the top of the Range on Tourist Road near the junction of the Warrego Highway. Groom acquired the site on the edge of the Toowoomba Range overlooking the Lockyer Valley in 1904 and named the property Unara. The planning of the house was typical of the period, with a central hallway providing access to the principal rooms including a drawing room, study, dining room and bedrooms.  The kitchen, pantry and servants quarters were located in a rear wing. A verandah surrounded the front section of the building. The main entrance, with a projecting gable roof, was situated on the northern side of the building. When the residence was built for Groom, he was a prominent figure on the Darling Downs.	TOOWOOMBA
Vacy Hall Vacy Hall, 135 Russell Street was designed by the architect James Marks & Sons in the late 1880s for Mayor Gilbert Gostwyck Cory. The property was built of double cavity brick and has many attractive internal features. The original house was destroyed by fire but was rebuilt in 1900. The Marks family had a significant role in designing buildings in the area. James' sons Henry {Harry}and Reginald, and his grandson Charles also became architects. The firm practised from c1881 until 1962 and favoured red brick buildings with white painted/rendered detailing. As Vacy Hall is a private property, we request that you respect the privacy of its occupants by not wandering through the grounds or buildings without the approval of the manager.	State Heritage, Register of the National Estate	135 Russell Street An example of the work of once prominent Toowoomba architect James Marks. The building is important for its architectural quality. It is one of the large impressive residences found in Toowoomba which reflect the wealth and prosperity of the developing leading Darling Downs city. The house is a single storey L-shaped plan, with a twin hipped iron roof encircled by verandahs. It has decorative glazed brickwork features at the corners and around windows and doors, as well as decorative brick chimney stacks Internal finishes include panelled cedar doors, fanlights, architraves, fireplace surrounds and skirtings, and the octagonal central hall also features ornate plaster mouldings and cornices, and a decorative parquet floor. Vacy Hall was designed by Toowoomba architect James Marks, and built by prominent local builder Alexander Mayes, who was also Mayor of Toowoomba three times. It is believed to be one of Marks’ last commissions.	TOOWOOMBA
Whyembah Whyembah was built c1896 for John Rosser, a commercial traveller with the Brisbane firm of Thurlow and Co. Whyembah originally stood on approximately 1r 29p of land, adjacent to the Toowoomba Botanic Gardens in Campbell Street. Rosser was a keen lawn bowler, and the grounds of Whyembah included a bowling green at one time. The house was renovated and enlarged in 1906, and the ceilings and walls lined in pressed metal.  After Rosser's death in 1925, his widow Margaret Ferrier Rosser remained at Whyembah. The property was acquired by William Ross Mackenzie in 1943 with the condition that Margaret Rosser could continue to reside at Whyembah until her death. The property changed hands a number of times. During the 1970s it was turned into flats. Whyembah was acquired by the present owners in 1979, who have subsequently renovated and extended the house.	State Heritage	80 Campbell Street Whyembah is a picturesque weatherboard house with a corrugated iron roof. It is located next to the Botanical Gardens, on a street with an avenue of mature trees and other timber houses, some of which are similar in form to Whyembah.  The house is single storeyed, with a recent two storeyed extension to the rear which meticulously imitates the original in external detail.  The exterior is an assemblage of projecting bays and verandahs, with roofs intersecting at the base of a flat-top pyramid roof. The eastern elevation has a projecting hipped roof bay, adjacent to a closed in verandah with a curved roof.  The street elevation has a small balcony at the end of the closed in verandah, which sits next to a projecting bay window. The street entrance, consisting of a projecting barrel vault supported on paired timber posts, is centrally placed. An L-shaped verandah links the street entrance to a less formal side entrance to the west, and contains a projecting corner bay window. Another bay window extends out from a projecting hipped bay at the southern end of the western frontage.	TOOWOOMBA
Wislet (Former Wesley Hospital) The Wesley Private Hospital built in 1908, is a large, two storey, rendered masonry building designed by architect William Hodgen jnr. and located in Russell Street, Toowoomba. It is situated on a large block, originally part of suburban allotment 9 "at the swamp near Drayton". This parcel of land of twenty three acres, two roods and thirty six perches was purchased by James Taylor in 1868 from William Horton who held the original deed of grant from 1852. James Taylor began to subdivide the land and the blocks passed through the hands of several owners.	State Heritage	127 Russell Street At the beginning of 1908, the Hinrichsens commissioned Toowoomba architect William Hodgen jnr. to design a combined residence and surgery. The tender amount was £2125 and the building contractor was Henry Andrews.  The house was adjacent to a house known as "The Rosery" which was owned by Dr Freshney, medical superintendent of Toowoomba Hospital 1892-1927, and it appears that the Hinrichsens built their house on the rose garden of this house.  Hodgen's original drawings show that the house was carefully designed to accommodate both Dr Hinrichsen's medical practice and the family's residence. The medical suite comprised of three rooms - a waiting room, consulting room and operating room and had its own entrance on the western side of the front elevation. A large, arched porch on the eastern side marked the entrance to the residence. This lead into a vestibule that linked together the medical suite and residence. A grand, central "hall dominated the ground floor of the residence. The hall measured 22 by 16 feet with a raised platform of 14 by 6 feet at one end. This platform was enclosed with leadlight windows to the east. Extensive servants quarters and service areas were also located on the ground floor, including a servant's hall, bedroom and bathroom as well as kitchen, laundry, pantry and store. A stable building and wood-house to the back of the block were part of the original design.	TOOWOOMBA

Other Homes of Federation Style around Toowoomba

Glen Alpine Sold for $1,700,000 Sold Date: Thu 14-Feb-13 House Four Bedrooms Bathrooms: 3  Car Spaces: 2 "Glen Alpine", widely recognized as the city's finest icon residence, offers you 2 brilliant choices - to call this magnificent property 'home' and enjoy an idyllic lifestyle, the envy of many, or to capitalize on its wonderful business potential as a Bed & Breakfast and/or Reception Centre. This latter avenue is currently operating with great success. Perched on the edge of the escarpment in East Toowoomba, it sits proudly on a 3590 square metre block commanding the most breathtaking panoramic easterly views over Redwood Park, the Lockyer Valley and the distance hills towards Brisbane and the Coast. Glen Alpine is a fine example of the Queensland vernacular of the Federation style. Constructed mainly of timber and exhibiting a formal symmetry, typical internal features are the 10'-12' ceilings, gracefully curved archways, bay windows, stained leaded glass, fanlights and French doors opening to an extensive array of verandas. Circa 1918, constructed on two levels, the upper one comprises an impressive mezzanine entrance and wide hallway, a handsome library with floor to ceiling cedar joinery, four queen sized bedrooms, an impressive main bathroom, sunroom and numerous verandas. The spectacular master suite is of enormous proportions, complete with fireplace, sitting area, ensuite and dressing room. A majestic staircase leads to the lower level - designed for both formal & casual living - a gracious formal lounge, separate formal dining area, a bright sunny, north easterly family-meals room, a magnificent Clive Christianson design kitchen, scullery, laundry and storeroom all electronically secure. Privately set in established gardens, it features majestic specimens of Bunya, Judas and Jacaranda trees, manicured lawns, numerous rose beds, a rotunda and a heritage listed fishpond. The magnificent swimming pool is complemented by an attractive gazebo complete with pizza oven & relaxing views of Tabletop Mountain. There are two inviting alfresco areas - a cool leafy covered Tuscan-style pergola and a pretty open sunny one to the north.	State Heritage	32-36 East Street, TOOWOOMBA The house and grounds of Glen Alpine, erected c1918, are important in demonstrating the pattern of Queensland's history, in particular the development of the Toowoomba Range as a prestigious residential area. Glen Alpine is a two-storey timber residence which is believed to have been built c1918 for Albert Rowbotham, of the Toowoomba firm Rowbotham and Co., bootmakers. The house was possibly designed by prominent Toowoomba architect, Harry J. Marks. The land was granted to Thomas Perkins in 1875, then acquired by William Shaw in 1876. It appears that there may have been a previous dwelling also named Glen Alpine on the same site, possibly as early as 1882-83 when Richard Cobb, a Toowoomba builder and contractor acquired the land. Cobb was recorded as living at The Range between 1883 and 1887. The land was acquired by David Laughland Brown of the softgoods firm Messrs. D. L. Brown and Co in 1887. Between 1887 and 1910 there were various references in the Post Office Directories and Toowoomba newspapers to Brown and his family at Glen Alpine, Main Range.  Rowbotham acquired the land in 1918. The house was purchased in 1931 by Neal Macrossan, then a Barrister-at-law and later a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. It appears that Neal Macrossan and his wife Eileen (daughter of T.C. Beirne) purchased Glen Alpine as a holiday home, indicative of the way in which Toowoomba was viewed as a 'summer resort' for heat-oppressed coastal Queenslanders (including the Governors), and a weekend escape for day trippers from Brisbane.  Glen Alpine, built into an eastern slope on the edge of Main Range, appears single-storeyed from the west, on the East Street frontage, but is two-storeyed from the east. The timber residence, the grounds of which fall away to the east and to Redwood Park beyond, faces east to the expansive view of the Brisbane Valley and Table Top mountain. The building has a hipped ribbed metal roof with projecting gables and verandahs to both levels around the southeast and northeast, with chamferboards to verandah walls and weatherboards to exposed walls. The gables have flat sheeting with timber cover strips and eave brackets.  Both the east and west elevations are symmetrical. The west elevation, sitting on a brick base with exposed piers, has projecting gabled rooms to the southwest and northwest with shuttered sash windows and a central projecting bay shaped porch. The porch has a hipped roof, eave brackets, batten railing and arched timber brackets with a concrete stair to a landing which splits into twin steps to the ground. The panelled timber entry door has a fanlight and two side sash windows with rose and clear glass with red glass borders. Low level windows in the brick base, to either side of the porch, light a service corridor behind. The east elevation has a central projecting gabled bay.
Harrow Homestead The home covers one hundred squares with wide verandas on three sides. Harrow is still very much a working property. Harrow Gardens are over 10 acres of rambling picturesque countryside featuring a 50 metre rose arbour, a lake with water lilies, extensive garden beds and a fish pond. The stunning garden and gorgeous homestead are available for viewing during September and October however coaches are available via appointment at any time. Location: 700 Cambooya Felton Road, Cambooya, Queensland Phone: 4667 3121 Email: harrowgardens@hotmail.com Website: www.harrowgardens.com		700 Cambooya Felton Road,  Harrow Homestead, a private home and a grand residence with the warmth and charm of yesteryear. Robert Ramsay, the English owner, had the impressive home constructed in the 1870’s mainly of hoop pine and red cedar with large rooms and an arched hallway of polished pine and cedar panelling. The home covers 100 squares with wide verandas on three sides. Harrow was once the centre of the small village with many outbuildings, workers cottages and a school. Harrow is still very much a working property today. History The ‘Harrow’ homestead and property, just west of Cambooya, has one of the largest holdings on the eastern Darling Downs. It is comprised of 1571 ha (3883 acres) in four separate but adjacent blocks. Robert Ramsay built Harrow homestead during the 1860’s. It is an impressive building constructed mainly of cedar and pine with an arched hallway of polished timber and large rooms. The homestead covers 100 squares and its two verandahs are 42 metres (140 feet) and 18 metres (60 feet) long. The homestead is set on about 4 ha (10 acres) of lawns and gardens. The history of Harrow is closely linked with that of Eton Vale, of which Harrow was once a part. Robert Ramsay purchased 35,000 acres (some historians say 76,000 acres) of the original Eton Vale Station from Arthur Hodgson, naming the property ‘Harrow’, after one of the British institutions at which he was educated. Later, legislation reduced the size of Harrow and the property was sold in 1927. Harrow was once the centre of a whole village with many outbuildings and workers cottages. There was also a school for the Ramsay children, though the property workers’ children were educated at another school at Umbiram. Cheese was manufactured in a factory on the property for many years, and until the 1940’s a large dairy herd was milked by shifts of workers 24 hours a day. The property also carried sheep and a Merino stud until the early 1960’s. ‘Harrow’ is watered by Emu and Hodgson Creeks, and is now used for grain growing and cattle production. During its history, the ownership of Harrow has changed only six times. Following the Ramsay family’s ownership, the property passed to the Lloyd family, then to Taylors, Duffys, Keongs, a partnership of Mr Charles Berg and Mr Bob Crothers, and finally to the current owners, the Carrigan family.	Cambooya, Queensland

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1. ^ http://www.lovelocalnews.com/general-interest/toowoomba-home-apsley-graces-2013-heritage-bank-calendar/