Glen Alpine, Toowoomba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glen Alpine |
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Front of the residence, 2014
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| Location | 32-36 East Street, Redwood, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1914 - 1919 (World War I) |
| Built | c. 1918 |
| Architect | Harry Marks |
| Official name: Glen Alpine | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
| Designated | 11 June 1993 |
| Reference no. | 600842 |
| Significant period | 1910s (fabric) 1910s-1950s (historical) |
| Significant components | garage, carriage way/drive, views from, service corridor, pond/s - garden, fernery, trees/plantings, wall/s - retaining, wall/s - garden, garden/grounds, residential accommodation - main house |
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Glen Alpine is a beautiful old house in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. It's a special building because of its history and unique design. It was built around 1918 and was likely designed by a famous local architect named Harry Marks. Today, Glen Alpine is recognized as an important heritage site, meaning it's protected for future generations to enjoy and learn from.
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The Story of Glen Alpine
Glen Alpine is a two-storey timber house. It is thought to have been built around 1918 for Albert Rowbotham, who owned a shoe-making business in Toowoomba.
Before Mr. Rowbotham, the land where Glen Alpine stands had other owners. One of them was David Laughland Brown, who owned a fabric company. His family lived at a place also called Glen Alpine between 1887 and 1910. This shows that the area has a long history of being a home.
In 1931, Neal Macrossan bought Glen Alpine. He was a very important lawyer who later became the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. A Chief Justice is the main judge in a state's highest court. Mr. Macrossan and his wife used Glen Alpine as a holiday home. This was common back then, as Toowoomba was a popular "summer resort" for people from hotter coastal areas like Brisbane.
A cool feature was added in 1931: a swimming pool! It was designed by William Hodgen Jnr. This was one of the very first swimming pools built at a home in Toowoomba.
During World War II, around 1940-1942, the Australian Army even used Glen Alpine for a short time. After Mr. Macrossan passed away in 1955, his daughter bought the house from his family in 1957.
What Does Glen Alpine Look Like?
Glen Alpine is built on a slope, so it looks like a one-storey house from the front (west side, facing East Street). But from the back (east side), it's actually two storeys! This side faces a beautiful view of the Brisbane Valley and Table Top mountain.
The house has a roof that slopes down on all sides, called a hipped roof. It also has verandahs (covered porches) on both levels around the side and back. The walls are made of timber.
On the front, there's a central porch that sticks out. It has a fancy roof and steps leading up to the main entrance. The front door has special glass above it and on the sides.
The back of the house has a large window that looks out at the amazing view. There are also French doors that open onto the verandahs. Some parts of the verandahs have been closed in with glass and timber panels.
On the south side, there's a room with arched windows. Below this, you'll find a three-car garage and a fernery (a place for growing ferns).
Inside, the house has timber floors, and the walls and ceilings are painted. The main entrance leads to a wide hallway. Bedrooms open off this hallway. A staircase with timber railings leads down to the ground floor. The ground floor has a sitting room and a kitchen.
Outside, the grounds are also very interesting. There's a fenced garden at the front with a low brick fence. You can still see parts of an old driveway that curved around the house. There's also a fish pond with brick paving, and many old trees and hedges around the property.
Why Glen Alpine is Special
Glen Alpine is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's considered very important and is protected. It was added to the list on June 11, 1993, for a few reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history unfolded.
Glen Alpine helps us understand how areas like the Toowoomba Range became popular and fancy places to live.
- It's beautiful and well-designed.
The house has a balanced and formal design. Its location, with its amazing views, makes it very special. It also adds a lot to the look of East Street and the whole town of Toowoomba.
- It's connected to an important person.
Glen Alpine has a special link to Chief Justice Neal Macrossan, who used it as his holiday home.
Images for kids
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A closer look at Glen Alpine, 2014
