Greystaines facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Greystaines |
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Building in 2015
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| Location | 240 Kingsford Smith Drive, Hamilton, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919–1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1934 - |
| Architect | George Ray |
| Architectural style(s) | Mediterranean |
| Official name: Greystaines, Greystaines Flats | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 26 May 2006 |
| Reference no. | 602551 |
| Significant period | 1934 – present |
| Significant components | residential accommodation – flat/s |
| Builders | Douglas Francis Roberts |
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Greystaines is a special old building in Hamilton, Queensland, Australia. It's a large, three-storey house that used to be an apartment block. It was designed by a famous architect named George Rae and built starting in 1934. Douglas Francis Roberts built it for Mr. and Mrs. Sydney James Dove. Greystaines is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2006.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of Greystaines
Early Days of the Land
The land where Greystaines stands today has a long history. It's located on the southern side of Hamilton Hill, with great views of the Brisbane River. This area was first offered for sale in 1853. Over time, the land was divided into smaller pieces. By the 1860s, many wealthy families started building nice homes on these hills, enjoying the river views.
From Houses to Apartments
By the mid-1890s, there was a house on the exact spot where Greystaines would later be built. In 1928, Mr. Sydney James Dove and his wife Audree Thomasina Dove bought the property. They decided to build something new and modern. In 1934, they asked a Brisbane architect named George Rae to design a block of six brick apartments for the site.
Why This Spot Was Perfect
The location was chosen very carefully for apartments. It was high up, offering amazing views of the Brisbane River and nearby areas. A tram service nearby made it easy to get to the Brisbane central business district (the city centre) and places like theatres and restaurants. Having two street entrances also made it very convenient. Because it was such a great spot in a fancy area, the building needed to be big and well-designed. It was meant to attract middle-class people who could afford higher rent.
The Architect: George Rae
George Rae was a very successful young architect in Brisbane at the time. He had just started his own architecture business in 1933. He designed many important apartment buildings in Brisbane during this period, including Carrington, Highview, Casa del Mar, and Green Gables.
Building Greystaines
By April 1934, George Rae had finished the designs for Greystaines. The building contract was given to Douglas Francis Roberts, a well-known builder in Brisbane. The building was estimated to cost about £4,000, which was a lot of money for an apartment building back then.
In November 1934, a local newspaper, the Courier-Mail, announced that Greystaines was finished. They even published a photo of the new building! Its design was seen as very modern and had a "Mediterranean architectural style." The apartments were comfortable and well-finished, clearly made for middle-class people.
Apartment Living in the 1930s
Greystaines was built during a time when apartment buildings were becoming popular again in Brisbane. This was after a tough economic period in the early 1930s. Building apartments was a good investment back then, as they could earn a good return for their owners.
Greystaines was one of the first large apartment blocks built in the Hamilton area. In the late 1930s, Hamilton became a popular place for new apartments, similar to New Farm. Many of these larger apartment buildings from 1934 to 1941 are still standing today.
Mr. and Mrs. Dove owned Greystaines Flats until 1941. The building changed hands a few times over the years. Around 2005, it was sold and changed from an apartment block into a single, large house.
What Greystaines Looks Like
Greystaines is located on the south-east side of Hamilton Hill, facing Kingsford Smith Drive. It still has amazing views of the Brisbane River and other suburbs.
The building has a roof made of terracotta tiles. The front of the building has a wide gable (the triangular part of a wall under a sloping roof). Below this, on each floor, there are arched verandas. These verandas have special twisted columns that support the arches. They open onto balconies with decorative railings.
The building's design is simple but very well done. It has smooth cornices (decorative moldings) and simple skirtings (baseboards). Inside, the halls had a wide plate rail (a narrow shelf for displaying plates). The doors had tall, narrow panels. The drawing rooms on the upper floors had wide doors with many small glass panes.
Greystaines really stands out along Kingsford Smith Drive. It also looks very impressive when seen from the Hamilton Reach of the Brisbane River.
