Gladstone House and Cottage facts for kids

Gladstone House and Cottage are two special buildings in Newtown, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. They are heritage-listed, which means they are important historical places. The main house, Gladstone House, was designed by a famous Toowoomba architect named Harry Marks for his own family. It was built around 1908. The smaller building, called The Cottage, was likely built at the same time. These buildings are also known as St Rest.

A Look Back: The History of Gladstone House

Gladstone House and The Cottage were finished around 1908. They were built for Henry James (Harry) Marks, a very well-known architect from Toowoomba. The Cottage might have been a gate-keeper's house back then.

The Land's Story

The land where Gladstone House stands was once part of a large farm called Eton Farm. This farm was known for growing many crops like wheat and corn. It also had an orchard, a dairy, and even a small horse stud.

In the late 1800s, Toowoomba was growing fast. Large farms like Eton Farm were divided into smaller blocks for people to build houses. Harry Marks and his wife, Katharine, bought several of these blocks in the early 1900s.

Harry Marks: A Creative Architect

Harry Marks was born and trained in Toowoomba. He joined his father, James Marks, in their architecture business in 1892. Together, they were very important architects in the area for over 50 years.

Harry Marks designed many buildings in Toowoomba and other places. He was known for being very inventive. He even created and patented his own special building parts. These included unique roof vents, windows, and a way to build stucco walls.

He used some of his own inventions in Gladstone House. For example, he designed special triangular bay windows. He also created the "AUSTRAL window," which was supposedly made just for this house.

Changes Over Time

In 1913, the area became the Town of Newtown. Harry Marks was a local council member (called an alderman) for Newtown from 1913 to 1917. After that, Newtown became part of the City of Toowoomba.

After Harry Marks passed away in 1939, his wife Katharine continued to live at Gladstone House. She started dividing and selling parts of the land in the 1940s. The land where The Cottage stands was given to their daughter in 1951.

Gladstone House has had several owners since the 1950s. In the 1970s, a new room was added to the back of the house.

Exploring Gladstone House and The Cottage

The property includes Gladstone House, The Cottage, and their surrounding gardens.

Gladstone House: A Unique Design

Gladstone House is a single-story house made of timber boards. It has a roof with many slopes, covered in corrugated iron (metal sheets). The house sits on timber stumps with wooden slats underneath. A newer addition was built at the back in the 1970s.

The house has a very interesting shape, like a cross. It has a central eight-sided (octagonal) living room. Three bedrooms stick out from this room. Other smaller, triangular rooms fill the spaces in between.

The main entrance is on the east side. It has a small, eight-sided tower with a metal roof. A verandah (porch) wraps around it. The verandah has decorative timber railings and slanted wooden posts. The front door is next to a special projecting section that features Harry Marks' patented AUSTRAL window.

Inside, the walls are made of vertical timber boards. The central octagonal room has windows high up in the roof (skylights) that let in lots of light. This room also has a fireplace with a fancy timber frame.

The Cottage: A Cozy Space

The Cottage is now a separate home. It's also a single-story building made of timber boards with a metal roof. It has a tall window high up in the center of the roof (a clerestory skylight) that brings in light.

The Cottage has a symmetrical design from the street. It has an entrance porch on each corner. Inside, there's a central living room with the large skylight. There are bedrooms on either side, and a kitchen and bathroom at the back.

The Grounds

A driveway leads to the property north of Gladstone House. There's a newer brick garage near the house. A timber shed with a metal roof is also on the property. The grounds have several old, large trees.

Why Gladstone House and Cottage Are Special

Gladstone House and Cottage were added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1995. This means they are protected because of their historical and architectural importance.

A Glimpse into the Past

These buildings show how Toowoomba grew in the early 1900s. Back then, large farms were divided into smaller plots for homes. Gladstone House and Cottage are examples of this growth.

Harry Marks' Creative Touch

The buildings are important because they were designed by Harry Marks, a very creative architect. They show his unique style and inventive ideas. Gladstone House even has his special AUSTRAL windows. The way the buildings are shaped, both inside and out, shows Marks' focus on using natural light and fresh air.

A Beautiful Part of the Street

Gladstone House, The Cottage, and the trees around them make Gladstone Street look very nice. They are also part of a larger collection of important buildings designed by Harry Marks in Toowoomba.