Boothville House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boothville |
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Residence in 2015
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| Location | 43 Seventh Avenue, Windsor, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1887 – c. 1900 |
| Official name: Boothville, Monte Video | |
| Type | state heritage (built, landscape) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600352 |
| Significant period | 1880s–1900s (fabric) 1880s–1920s (historical) 1920s–1990s (social) |
| Significant components | billiards room, trees/plantings, garden edging/balustrades/planter boxes, well, carriage way/drive, service wing, residential accommodation – main house, chapel, garden/grounds |
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Boothville is a beautiful old house in Windsor, Brisbane, Australia. It was built a long time ago, starting in 1887. This special building is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it's an important part of history. For many years, it was known as Monte Video, and later it became a hospital called Boothville.
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A Look Back: Boothville's Early Days
This large brick house, originally called Monte Video, was built in 1887. It was made for Henry Wallis Glenny, who was a top manager at the Queensland National Bank. He bought the land for the house between 1885 and 1887.
The bank helped Mr. Glenny build his home. Some people think the famous architect Francis Drummond Greville Stanley might have designed it. He designed many buildings for the Queensland National Bank, including their main office in Brisbane.
New Owners and Changes
In 1892, Mr. Glenny left the bank, and the bank bought the house from him. For a few years, it was empty or rented out for short times. Then, in 1896, Walter Vardon Ralston, the new general manager of the bank, and his family moved in.
Around 1900, while the Ralstons lived there, a new wooden part was added to the back of the house. This addition included a large billiard room and a sunny room that opened onto a porch. Walter Ralston passed away in 1920, but his wife stayed in the house until 1922.
Boothville: A Hospital for Mothers
In 1923, the Salvation Army bought Monte Video. They bought it through William Bramwell Booth, whose father, William Booth, started the Salvation Army in England. In May 1924, the Salvation Army's Mothers Hospital moved into the house, and it was renamed Boothville.
Boothville became a place where mothers could get care and support. It helped many families over the years. Some land around the hospital was sold in 1929, but most of the property stayed with the Salvation Army.
Growing the Hospital
Over the years, more buildings were added to the Boothville site to help the hospital grow. One building was moved from another location and made into a two-story building. Another small house was moved there in 1962.
Later, in the 1970s, a brick labour ward was added. More recently, a courtyard was covered, and a new brick theatre wing was built.
The Salvation Army stopped using Boothville as a hospital in 1994. After that, the building was carefully restored to become a private home again. In 2013, the house was sold.
Exploring Boothville's Design
Boothville sits on a large piece of land at the top of a hill. It's a mix of brick and wooden buildings. The original main house is still the most important part, sitting proudly at the highest point.
The main building has a U-shape. The original two-story brick house is at the front, with its porches now enclosed. Behind it are a single-story brick service wing and a wooden addition from around 1900. The roof has many different slopes, with a flat part in the middle that has a fancy iron fence.
Outside Features
The front of the house has a two-story bay window and a wooden entrance porch. The porch has three columns and pretty stained glass panels. The porches on the sides of the house have been enclosed, but you can still see some of the original decorative wood details, like arched patterns and carved columns.
Inside the House
When you enter, you'll find a grand hallway with a brick archway and beautiful carved wooden stairs. To the east is a large reception room with a fancy plaster ceiling and a detailed fireplace. This room used to connect to another room with folding wooden doors.
The office on the west side has amazing carved wooden cupboards, a sideboard, mirrors, and a fireplace with mosaic tiles. The "service wing" at the back used to have a large dining room, a smaller room that was probably for servants, a big kitchen, and a pantry.
Upstairs, there were four bedrooms and a dressing room. These rooms now serve different purposes. The main rooms on the south side of the house have great views of the city.
Boothville's Grounds and Gardens
The land around Boothville still has parts of its old garden, terraced areas, and established trees along the edges. Low brick fences with iron railings mark the front terraces. On the west side of the house, there's an old well that was reopened in 1986, and a small Garden Chapel.
A paved driveway follows the original curve around the front lawn, leading to a circular parking area. This was once where carriages would arrive. Even though the house was changed to be a hospital, its main shape and many of its beautiful inside features are still there. The changes haven't taken away from how pretty the building looks on its hilltop.
Why Boothville is Special
Boothville is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it's important for several reasons:
- Showing History: It helps us understand how Brisbane's northern suburbs grew in the late 1800s. It's a great example of a wealthy family's home from that time, showing how people lived and designed their houses and gardens.
- Beautiful Design: The way Boothville is placed on the hill and its remaining outside features make the Windsor area look very pretty. Inside, the house has finely crafted wooden details, plaster ceilings, and stained glass.
- Community Connection: Boothville has a special link to the work of the Salvation Army in Queensland. It was a maternity hospital for almost 70 years, which means it helped many mothers and families in the community.
