Mountview House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountview House |
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Mountview House
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| Location | 37 Leichhardt Street, Spring Hill, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1840s - 1860s (mid-19th century) |
| Built | 1860s - 1882 |
| Built for | Daniel McNaught |
| Architect | Andrea Stombuco |
| Official name: Mountview House | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 13 May 2004 |
| Reference no. | 602317 |
| Significant period | 1860s (historical, fabric) 1882 (historical, fabric) |
| Significant components | garden/grounds, steps/stairway, residential accommodation - main house |
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Mountview House is a special old house in Spring Hill, Brisbane, Australia. It's listed as a heritage site because of its history. The first part of the house was built in the 1860s. Later, in 1882, a new section was added. This new part was designed by a famous architect named Andrea Stombuco.
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The Story of Mountview House
Mountview House has a long and interesting history. It started as a family home and later became a school.
Who Built Mountview House?
The first part of Mountview House was a two-story stone building. It was likely built in the 1860s for Daniel McNaught. He was a foreman carpenter in Brisbane. In 1882, a new brick wing was added. This was when the house became a school for boys.
The area around Spring Hill was first planned in 1856. It quickly became a place where people built homes. Spring Hill was one of Brisbane's first suburbs. Richer families lived on the higher parts of the land.
How Daniel McNaught Bought the Land
The land where Mountview House stands was part of a bigger area. It was bought by a Brisbane shop owner, Richard Ash Kingsford, in 1856. In the early 1860s, this land was divided into smaller blocks for houses.
In January 1863, Daniel McNaught bought two of these blocks. They were at the corner of Leichhardt and Downing streets. This spot was on the highest ground in Spring Hill. He took out a loan of £450 later that year. This money might have helped him build Mountview House.
Daniel McNaught's Life in Brisbane
Daniel McNaught was a skilled carpenter from Scotland. He arrived in Australia in 1848. For a few years, he looked for gold in New South Wales. But in 1855, he came back to Brisbane.
He worked for his brother-in-law, John Petrie. John Petrie was a well-known builder. Daniel became the manager of Petrie's joinery works. He helped build many important buildings in Brisbane. These included Parliament House and the Supreme Court.
Daniel McNaught was also active in local politics. He was against bringing back convict workers. He also supported Queensland becoming a separate colony from New South Wales. He was a respected member of his church and a local judge.
Mountview House as a Home and School
It's thought that John Petrie might have built or designed Mountview House for the McNaught family. At first, it might have been an investment. Daniel McNaught lived elsewhere for some years. But by 1876, the McNaughts were living at Mountview House.
Later, Daniel McNaught moved into a smaller cottage behind Mountview House. Mountview House itself was then rented out. In 1881, a woman named Sarah Cargill leased the house. She turned it into a preparatory school for boys.
In 1882, the property was sold to Mrs. Rebecca Thorn. She likely paid for the new additions to Mountview House. These additions were designed by architect Andrea Stombuco. They were made for Sarah Cargill's Boys' Preparatory School.
Changes Over the Years
After the school, Mountview House became a boarding house. It stayed that way for many years. In 1916, Joseph O'Donnell bought the house. He used it as his home and also ran a car garage nearby.
In 1937, James and Annie Cloughley bought Mountview House. They also bought back the smaller property next door. Under their ownership, Mountview House became a building with many apartments.
In the 1950s, a group of architects bought the house. They fixed it up to use as their offices. Since the 1970s, Mountview House has been used as both a home and offices.
What Does Mountview House Look Like?
Mountview House sits on a high spot in Spring Hill. It's a two-story building made of stone and brick. It has two-story verandahs (porches) on three sides. The house is right on Leichhardt Street. It also has gardens on the side.
Building Materials and Design
The house has two main parts. The older part is made of stone. The newer part, added later, is made of brick. The stone looks like a local type called porphyry. The brickwork has been painted.
Both parts of the house have separate hip roofs. These roofs are covered with painted corrugated iron. There are also chimneys on both roofs.
Verandahs and Entrances
The verandahs on the front of the house are not continuous. The older stone section has an enclosed verandah. It wraps around the front and sides. The newer brick section has an open verandah. It has pretty cast iron railings and timber posts.
The main entrance stairs are built into the stone base of the house. They lead to a small entry porch. From this porch, a door opens directly into the old stone part of the building.
Inside Mountview House
When you enter, you step into a wide hallway in the stone part of the house. This hallway has a staircase leading upstairs. The stone section has two rooms on each floor. Each room has a fireplace. These rooms open onto the enclosed verandahs.
The brick extension has one large room on each floor. There's a fireplace in the lower room. Doors lead to the open verandahs. The walls and ceilings inside are plastered and painted. The floors are usually timber.
The back of Mountview House has more recent additions. These include a kitchen and a storeroom.
Why Mountview House is Important
Mountview House is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's a very important historical place.
Showing Queensland's History
Mountview House helps us understand how Brisbane grew. It shows how people settled in the city in the mid-1800s. It also connects to the first Scottish immigrants to Queensland. Families like the McNaughts and Petries helped build the colony.
A Rare Old Building
This house is special because it's one of the few stone buildings from the 1860s still standing in Queensland. It shows us what homes looked like back then. It has two stories, stone walls, verandahs, fireplaces, and a hipped roof.
Beautiful Design and Location
Mountview House is on a high ridge in Spring Hill. It's a landmark that adds a lot to the look of Leichhardt Street. The additions, like the brick wing by Andrea Stombuco, make the house even more beautiful.
