Hughesville, Eight Mile Plains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hughesville |
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Hughesville, 2009
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| Location | 2497 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1892 - 1893 |
| Architect | George Thornhill Campbell-Wilson |
| Official name: Hughesville | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600191 |
| Significant period | 1890s (fabric) 1890s-1910s (historical) 1890s - (social) |
| Significant components | residential accommodation - main house, trees/plantings, kitchen/kitchen house |
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Hughesville is a beautiful old house located at 2497 Logan Road in Eight Mile Plains, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by an architect named George Thornhill Campbell-Wilson and built between 1892 and 1893. This historic home is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's protected because of its special history and design.
Contents
History of Hughesville
Hughesville is a large, single-story timber house. It was built in 1892-1893 for Richard Alfred Hughes. Richard was a local horse dealer. The house was supposedly a wedding gift from Richard's father, Alfred (Fred) Hughes, when Richard married Elizabeth Magee in 1891.
The Hughes Family and Horses
Fred Hughes was a well-known horse dealer. He also owned "livery stables," which were places where people could keep their horses for a fee. He had stables in Brisbane from the 1870s. In the mid-1880s, Fred and his family moved to Upper Mt Gravatt. There, he bred special horses, including Arabian horses.
In 1892, Richard Hughes, who was 19 years old, bought a large piece of land. It was about 8 hectares (20 acres) in Eight Mile Plains. Hughesville was built on this land, at the corner of Logan and Padstow Roads.
The Architect
The house was designed by George Thornhill Campbell-Wilson. He was an architect who worked in Brisbane from 1889 until about 1934. George was born in Brisbane, and his father was also a famous architect. George learned his skills from his father.
Eight Mile Plains Community
Hughesville was probably the nicest house in the area at the time. Eight Mile Plains was a farming community about eight miles south of Brisbane. In the 1860s, this area became an "agricultural reserve." This meant it was set aside for farming. Farmers grew fruits and vegetables.
The community grew even more when a railway line opened in 1885. By the time Hughesville was built in the 1890s, Eight Mile Plains was a strong farming area. Richard Hughes continued his father's business, raising horses on the property until 1912-1913. The house stayed in the Hughes family until 1994.
Recent History
After the Hughes family left, the house was empty for some years and became quite run down. However, it was later restored and is now used as offices. You might have even seen it in an old TV commercial for XXXX beer!
What Hughesville Looks Like
Hughesville sits on a grassy hill where Logan Road and Padstow Road meet. It's a large house made of timber. The outside walls are covered with wide wooden boards called "chamferboards." The inside walls are lined with special wooden boards that fit together. The house stands on short wooden stumps.
Verandahs and Roof
The main part of the house is surrounded by wide verandahs. These verandahs have roofs made of corrugated iron. Many rooms have windows that open directly onto the verandahs. The front and side verandahs have thin, fancy cast-iron posts. These posts are grouped in threes at the corners. There's also delicate cast-iron railing. The back verandah has simpler square timber posts.
The main roof of the house is shaped like a pyramid and is also made of corrugated iron. At the very top of the roof, there's a special platform called a "widow's walk." This platform has decorative cast-iron railings and pointy decorations at the corners.
Inside the House
Compared to its fancy outside, the inside of Hughesville is simpler. There's a wide hallway in the middle of the house. To the right of the hallway are the living room and dining room. To the left are three bedrooms. The living room has a special window that sticks out, called a "bay window."
At both ends of the hallway, there are front and back doors. Each door has a decorative fanlight (a window shaped like a fan above the door) and side windows. All the wooden parts inside, like the doors and window frames, are made of red cedar wood. The floors are also made of cedar.
The dining room has a cedar fireplace mantelpiece. The living room has a fancy grey marble mantelpiece with a gold mirror. These two fireplaces are back-to-back. The inside walls still have some of their original paint.
Kitchen and Garden
A separate entrance leads from the dining room to a timber kitchen house. This building has a pointed roof (a "gable roof") and a room for servants. It's attached to the back verandah. The kitchen still has its original brick fireplace.
Today, only a few parts of the original garden remain. You can see two large camphor laurel trees, one on each side of the front path. There's also a big mango tree. Many other old buildings, like the stables and a shed for buggies, are no longer there. Also, only a small part of the original land is left.
Why Hughesville is Important
Hughesville was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's recognized as an important historical site for several reasons:
- Shows Queensland's History: Hughesville is a great example of a large house from the 1890s. It shows us what life was like back then and represents a classic Queensland house from that time period.
- A Special Type of Building: The house is important because it's a perfect example of a "Queensland house" from the late 1800s. It's still in very good condition, looks beautiful, and stands out in its location.
- Aesthetic Significance: People find Hughesville very appealing to look at. Its design and how well it has been kept make it a beautiful landmark.
- Important to the Community: For many years, Hughesville was a well-known landmark along the old Pacific Highway (Logan Road). It marked the edge of Brisbane for people traveling to the Gold Coast. This gives it a strong connection to the local community.
