Moorlands, Auchenflower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moorlands |
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Moorlands, 2012
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| Location | 451 Coronation Drive, Auchenflower, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | c. 1892 |
| Architect | Richard Gailey |
| Official name: Moorlands | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
| Designated | 21 August 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600052 |
| Significant period | 1890s (fabric) 1890s-1960s (historical) |
| Significant components | residential accommodation - main house, gate - entrance, stained glass window/s, views to, cellar, service wing, tower - observation/lookout, views from, trees/plantings |
| Builders | Arthur Smith |
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Moorlands is a grand old house located at 451 Coronation Drive in Auchenflower, Queensland, Australia. It's a special building that is "heritage-listed," which means it's officially recognized as important to history and protected. The house was designed by a famous architect named Richard Gailey and built around 1892 by Arthur Smith. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on August 21, 1992.
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History of Moorlands
Moorlands was built in 1892 for the Mayne family, who were well-known in Brisbane. It replaced an older wooden house on the same land, which was also called Moorlands Villa.
Mary Mayne, whose husband was Patrick Mayne, bought the original house and a large piece of land (about 15 acres) in 1876. Patrick Mayne was an important person in Brisbane during the 1860s and 1870s. He owned a butcher shop, was a city council member, and bought and sold a lot of property. Mary Mayne and her five children lived in Moorlands Villa until she passed away in September 1889.
Four of the children – James, William, Isaac, and Mary Emelia – continued to live on the property. They decided to build a brand new house. Mary Emelia Mayne laid the first stone on June 3, 1892. They even placed a "time capsule" under it, which held newspapers from that time and a note explaining why the house was being built.
The famous architect Richard Gailey designed the building, and Arthur Smith was the builder. The ground floor had a porch, a main hall, a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen. The basement held cellars, a dairy, and a laundry. Upstairs, there was another hall, ten bedrooms, and several bathrooms.
The Mayne family owned Moorlands until 1940. They then gave it to the University of Queensland. The family had also given money to the university in the 1920s to help buy its main campus in St Lucia.
During World War II, soldiers from the United States stayed at Moorlands. Some army-style huts from that time can still be found on the grounds. In 1947, the building was sold to the Brisbane branch of the Legacy War Widows and Orphans Fund. This organization provided a home for children and widows who had lost family members in the war, until 1971.
The Methodist Church (which later became the Uniting Church) bought the property in 1971. The Wesley Hospital, which opened in March 1977, was built on the land behind the house. Moorlands itself was updated and used as offices for the Blue Nursing Service. Today, it serves as the main office for the Uniting Church's aged care services.
In the 1970s, the road in front of Moorlands was made wider. Because of this, the original front fence was removed. The gates and gate posts, which are copies of the old ones, were moved further up the hill.
What Moorlands Looks Like
Moorlands is a large, two-story building made of brick, covered in a smooth finish. It has a wooden lookout tower and a service wing at the back. The house stands out on a hill, looking over the Brisbane River at the Toowong Reach. It sits on a large piece of land that faces Coronation Drive.
The main roof is covered with slate tiles. However, the steep, pointed roof of the corner observation tower is made of broad sheets of galvanized iron. Four tall double chimneys rise above the roof.
The sides of the house that face the river have verandahs on both levels. There's also a fancy wooden lookout tower at the corner. A part of the front of the house sticks out, with bay windows. The verandahs and tower have double wooden posts with shared tops and wooden brackets. They also have a delicate cast iron railing and a wooden decorative border.
Inside, the walls and high ceilings are smooth and painted. Most rooms have decorative plaster circles on the ceilings. Arches connect the hallways and are in front of the bay windows.
The main rooms have detailed decorative borders near the ceiling. They also have paper decorations and wooden picture rails, which were once painted in many colors and gilded (decorated with gold). Only the main front room still has its original decorations.
Most rooms have a fireplace with shiny ceramic tiles and a marble frame. Beautiful cedar wood is used throughout the inside, especially for the fine staircase and the folding doors on the ground floor. The wooden panels on the stair railing have the letters "PM" twisted together. At the bottom of the main stair post, the Latin words "sursum corda" are carved, which means "Lift up your hearts." A large, beautifully designed stained glass window lights up the stairwell.
The original layout of the rooms inside the house is still the same, including the cellars under the kitchen.
Some old, tall trees like bunya, poinciana, and jacaranda trees are still there from the original garden. The large Wesley Hospital complex is located next to the building.
Why Moorlands is Heritage-Listed
Moorlands was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on August 21, 1992, because it meets several important requirements.
It shows how Queensland's history has changed. Moorlands is a great example of a large brick house from the 1890s.
It has a special look that people value. Moorlands is important because of its beauty. It stands out as a landmark and adds to the look of Coronation Drive and the Brisbane River.
It is connected to important people or groups. Moorlands has a special link to the Mayne family, who gave a lot of money to the University of Queensland. It also shows the home designs of architect Richard Gailey.
Images for kids
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Moorland Park, 1948
