Kurrowah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kurrowah |
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Kurrowah, 2013
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| Location | 218 Gladstone Road, Dutton Park, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1914 - 1919 (World War I) |
| Built | 1915-1916 |
| Architect | Lange Leopold Powell |
| Official name: Kurrowah | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 13 June 2014 |
| Reference no. | 602827 |
| Significant period | 1915- |
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Kurrowah is a beautiful old house in Dutton Park, Brisbane, Queensland. It's a special building because it was designed by a famous architect named Lange Leopold Powell. Built between 1915 and 1916, Kurrowah is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's an important part of Queensland's history and needs to be protected.
Contents
The Story of Kurrowah House
Kurrowah is a large house made of brick, timber, and tiles. It sits on high ground, offering great views of the area. It's a rare example of the homes designed by architect Lange Leopold Powell. The inside of the house is also very well-designed and still looks much like it did when it was first built.
How Dutton Park Grew
The area around Dutton Park used to be thick bushland. Over time, farms started appearing near the river. In the 1880s, more land was divided up for houses. The Dutton Park railway station opened in 1884, making it easier to get around.
In 1890, a horse-drawn bus service started, connecting Dutton Park to the city. This was replaced by electric trams in 1908. The trams made the area very popular and land prices almost doubled! By 1914, the suburb was named Dutton Park, after a politician named Charles Dutton. By the 1920s, it was a fashionable place to live.
Who Lived at Kurrowah?
The land where Kurrowah stands was first bought by Edward Deighton around 1860. Later, in 1888, it was sold to Abraham Fleetwood Luya, a timber merchant and local politician. He built a house on the site and lived there by 1889.
In 1894, the property was sold to Anna Magdalena Heinecke, who lived there with her husband, Frederick. Their home was called "Linden."
The Brodribb Family and a New Home
In 1908, Jessie Scott Brodribb bought "Linden." Her husband, Frank Kenric Brodribb, came from a wealthy family who owned a sheep station called "Kurrowah." The Brodribbs renamed their new home "Kurrowah" after the sheep station. They were an important family in Brisbane society and often hosted parties and charity events at their home.
In 1915, the Brodribbs decided to build a new, grander house on their property. They hired the architectural firm Chambers and Powell to design it. The new Kurrowah was finished by 1916. It was built on a high spot, which was common for wealthy families in Brisbane. They wanted homes with lots of space, fresh air, good views, and breezes.
Newspaper articles from the time mention that the house had a "wide tile piazza" (a type of covered porch) where people danced. Supper was served in the "large panelled dining room." The house even had a concrete tennis court by 1923, used for games and jazz parties!
How Kurrowah Was Designed
Kurrowah's design shows popular architectural styles from the early 1900s. It mixes ideas from English Queen Anne and Arts and Crafts styles, with some features like a Californian Bungalow. It has steep roofs with decorative tiles, tall chimneys, and deep porches. The outside walls are light-colored with dark brick details, making it look dramatic. Inside, there's dark timber paneling and fancy plaster decorations.
The house was designed to be very practical and comfortable. It had a wide central hall, outdoor living spaces like the piazzas, and a kitchen that was part of the main house. It also had built-in cupboards and wardrobes for convenience. The use of timber walls and wooden floors made the house easy to keep clean.
The Architect: Lange Leopold Powell
Lange Leopold Powell was born in 1886. He became a very important architect in Queensland. After training in Brisbane and working in London, he started his own firm. He was a leader in the architecture profession, helping to create the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.
Powell designed many different types of buildings, including churches and commercial buildings. Some of his famous works include:
- Austral Motors Building
- Masonic Temple
- St John's Cathedral (he helped beautify it)
He also designed about 30 houses, mostly for wealthy clients in fancy suburbs like Hamilton and Clayfield. Kurrowah shows many features typical of his house designs:
- Solid brick walls with a smooth finish
- Steeply pitched tiled roofs
- Tall chimneys
- Large entrance stairs
- Timber porches
- Dark oak paneling inside
- Fancy plaster ceilings
These features made Kurrowah a grand home for a well-off family.
Changes Over Time
The Brodribb family made some additions to Kurrowah over the years.
- By 1923, a timber verandah was added to the front.
- A timber extension was added to the master bedroom.
- A garage with a room for a worker was built. Later, this was turned into a small cottage.
- Before 1938, another bedroom was added at the back.
In 1938, Mrs. Brodribb tried to sell Kurrowah. It was described as having "one of the finest sites with beautiful views of river, city and mountains." It had 5 bedrooms, a dressing room, a den, a music room, and a large piazza. It also had three garages, a tennis court, and lawns.
After Mr. Brodribb died in 1940, the large garden was divided into smaller blocks and sold off in 1941. This was a common trend after the Great Depression.
Mrs. Brodribb passed away in 1951. The house was sold a few times after that. The Murray family owned it from 1955 until 2013. They didn't make many changes, which is why the house's interior is still so well-preserved today. Even though other old houses nearby were knocked down, Kurrowah remained a family home with a large garden.
What Kurrowah Looks Like Today
Kurrowah is a large brick house on a high ridge in Dutton Park. It has a big yard, over 1000 square meters, and is reached by a long driveway. The house faces southwest, looking down the yard towards Gladstone Road, with amazing views of the mountains.
The house has a unique style, mixing different old designs. It has many projecting rooms with steep, intersecting roofs. The ends of the roofs are decorated with timber or terracotta tiles. The outside walls are white with red brick details, and there are three tall, slender chimneys. The windows are mostly small, timber-framed windows with many panes.
A wide covered porch, called a "piazza," runs along one side. The front door is made of timber and has a special brass knocker with a picture of William Wallace, a Scottish hero, and two kangaroos holding a thistle.
Inside, the house has a grand feel with lots of dark-stained timber wall panels and fancy plaster ceilings. The rooms are arranged in a way that shows their importance, with a wide, decorated hall at the front and narrower halls for the bedrooms and service areas. The house still has its original timber built-in wardrobes, old electrical light fittings, and even a servant bell system!
Behind the main house, there are three other buildings:
- A small cottage, which used to be the garage and worker's room.
- Two garages.
- A small timber shed.
The garden has interesting trees and old concrete garden beds. The front fence is made of low stone walls.
Why Kurrowah is Important
Kurrowah is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register for several reasons:
- A Glimpse into History: It shows how important architect Lange Leopold Powell was to Queensland's home designs. It also gives us a look into the lives of wealthy families in Brisbane in the early 1900s.
- A Rare Find: Kurrowah is a rare and well-preserved example of a house designed by an architect from that time. The inside is still very much original.
- A Great Example: It's a perfect example of the kind of grand homes that rich people built in the early 20th century. These houses were usually designed by architects, used high-quality materials, had lots of rooms, and included spaces for servants and cars.
- Beautiful Design: Kurrowah is beautiful to look at, with its unique design and how it sits on the hill with great views. Lange L. Powell's skill in design and the amazing craftsmanship inside the house make it very special.
