Killowen, Rockhampton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Killowen, Rockhampton |
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Killowen, 2009
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| Location | 86 Ward Street, The Range, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | c. 1898 - c. 1920 |
| Architect | Eaton & Bates |
| Official name: Killowen, Boland Residence | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600819 |
| Significant period | 1890s-1920s (fabric) 1890s-1980s (historical) |
| Significant components | residential accommodation - main house, pavilion, decorative features |
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Killowen is a beautiful old house in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. It is located at 86 Ward Street, in an area called The Range. This large timber house is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical building. It was designed by architects Eaton & Bates and built around 1898. Killowen is also known as the Boland Residence because it was home to the Boland family for many years.
What is Killowen's Story?
Killowen is a big, fancy house made of timber and corrugated iron. It was likely designed by the architects Eaton and Bates. The house was built for Robert Cecil Boland around 1898. The Boland family owned Killowen until the mid-1980s.
Robert Cecil Boland was a lawyer who moved to Rockhampton in 1894. He joined a law firm called Rees R & Sydney Jones. It is believed he named the house "Killowen" to honor Baron Russell of Killowen. Baron Russell was a famous judge in England whom Boland admired.
Why was The Range a Special Place to Live?
Killowen is located on The Range, a hilly area west of Rockhampton's city center. In the early days of Rockhampton, people often advertised houses as either "cottages" or "gentlemen's residences." Cottages were usually closer to the city. "Gentlemen's residences" were often found on The Range.
The Range was a popular place for important Rockhampton citizens to build their homes. They loved the amazing views of the city and the cool breezes. Many grand houses were built there, especially near Ward and Agnes Streets. Killowen is a great example of these large homes built in the late 1880s and 1890s.
How Killowen's Land Changed Over Time
The land where Killowen stands was originally part of a much larger area. This land was first sold by the government in 1859. Over the years, it was divided into smaller pieces. Robert Cecil Boland bought the Killowen site in July 1898. At first, it was about 2 acres (about 8,000 square meters). By 1900, its size was reduced.
When Killowen was first built, it was set back about 30 meters from Ward Street. This allowed for a long driveway lined with palm trees and beautiful gardens.
The Boland Family's Life at Killowen
The Boland family lived in Killowen for almost 90 years. Robert Cecil Boland was born in 1867. He became a lawyer in 1890. In 1894, he moved to Rockhampton and became a partner in the law firm Rees R & Sydney Jones. This firm became one of the most important legal firms in Central Queensland.
Around 1898, Robert Boland had Killowen built. Two years later, he married Louisa Penelope McLeod. They had two sons, Russell Lazare and Cecil Clive. In 1905, Robert put Killowen in his wife's name.
Who Designed Killowen?
The architectural firm of Eaton and Bates is believed to have designed Killowen. This company started in Rockhampton around 1894. They designed several important buildings in the area. These include the Lakes Creek Hotel (1895) and Schotia Place (1899).
How the House Changed Over Time
Killowen likely started as a four-room house with a central hallway and verandahs. Verandahs are covered porches that wrap around a house. Around the early 1920s, the house was made bigger. The verandahs were also made wider. This made them more useful as extra living space.
Robert Cecil Boland's son, Clive Boland, also became a lawyer. He took over the family law firm after his father died in 1927. Clive continued to live at Killowen.
Clive's mother, Louisa Boland, passed away in 1949. The house then went to Clive. In 1954, Clive married Lucy Eyrie Rule. Lucy remembers that Clive made some changes to the back of the house before they got married.
The Boland family was very important in Rockhampton. They were not just lawyers but also active in the community. They loved horse racing. The Boland Administration Building at Callaghan Park Racecourse is named after Robert Cecil, Russell Lazare, and Cecil Clive Boland. They were all part of the Rockhampton Jockey Club Committee for many years.
In the mid-1980s, the Boland family sold Killowen. The new owners divided the land. The house was also moved closer to the corner of Ward and Agnes Streets. Some separate servants' quarters at the back of the property were removed around this time.
What Does Killowen Look Like Today?
Today, Killowen sits on a block of land about 1,386 square meters. It is still in The Range, a top residential area. The house is single-story from the front (Ward Street side). The area underneath the house is enclosed at the back. It is made of timber with a corrugated iron roof. The house has been updated at least twice, once around the 1920s and again around 1986.
The roof of Killowen is quite complex, with different sections and levels. It has gables (pointed roof sections) and hips (sloping roof sections). There's a pyramid-shaped roof over the main part of the house with a metal vent. A brick chimney also sticks out from the roof.
Verandahs and Special Features
Killowen has verandahs on three sides: east, south (facing Ward Street), and west (facing Agnes Street). The front verandah faces Ward Street. At its corners, there are special octagonal (eight-sided) verandah extensions. The railings on the verandahs have a unique design.
The main staircase is in the middle of the front verandah. It's made of timber and has the name "Killowen" pressed into a concrete pad at its base. At the top of the stairs, there's a covered entrance called a portico. It has decorative timber work.
The eastern verandah is enclosed with timber slats and diagonal lattice. Lattice is a criss-cross pattern of wood. This helps separate it from the front verandah.
The octagonal verandah extensions at the front corners are about 2.6 meters wide. Their roofs are held up by double timber posts. The walls below the floor of these extensions are made of weatherboard.
The front door is made of dark timber with colored, textured glass panels on the sides. The bedrooms and sitting rooms have French doors that open onto the verandahs. These doors have narrow windows with pastel-colored glass panels.
The western verandah (facing Agnes Street) has another staircase. This verandah also features horizontal slats and diagonal lattice. It has long, narrow window frames with small panes of colored glass.
Inside Killowen
When you enter Killowen through the front door, you step into a central hallway. Rooms open off this hallway to the east and west. The walls in the hallway are made of horizontal tongue and groove timber. This is a type of timber paneling.
One room in the house has a fireplace. This room features dark-stained timber and special glass panels with an Art Nouveau design. Art Nouveau was a popular art style around the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Another room has wallpaper with a striped floral pattern up to a certain height. Above that, it's plastered. This wallpaper might be from the 1940s. The ceiling in this room has a decorative plaster panel with flower and ribbon designs.
At the back of the house are the dining and kitchen areas. There's also a newer sunroom and bedroom. The ceilings throughout the house are quite high, about 3.6 meters.
Killowen's Gardens
The gardens at Killowen today look similar to how they did before the house was moved. Two large Cuban Royal palm trees stand between the front gate and the main entrance stairs. There's also an octagonal birdcage (aviary) in the garden on the Agnes Street side. The fence around the property has been rebuilt. A old railway carriage has been placed in the garden's north-eastern corner.
Why is Killowen Important?
Killowen was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992 because it meets several important requirements:
- It shows how Queensland's history developed.
Killowen is historically important because it shows how homes were built in Rockhampton during times when the economy was growing quickly.
- It shows the main features of a certain type of historical place.
This large timber house is a great example of a home with many verandahs used as living spaces. It also has traditional, formal rooms inside.
- It has great aesthetic (beauty) value.
Built in the late 1800s, Killowen is important for its beauty. It also adds a lot to the look of the residential streets on The Range.
