Newstead House, Brisbane facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Newstead House
Newstead House
Former names	Newstead
General information
Type	Mansion
Architectural style	Victorian
Location	On the northern bank of the Brisbane River at its junction with Breakfast Creek
Address	Corner Newstead Ave and Breakfast Creek Road, Newstead
Town or city	Brisbane
Country	Australia
Coordinates	27°26′34″S 153°02′46″E / 27.4427°S 153.0462°E / -27.4427; 153.0462
Construction started	1846
Renovated	1865, circa 1900
Owner	Newstead House Board of Trustees

Newstead House is the oldest house still standing in Brisbane, Australia. It sits on the bank of the Brisbane River where it meets Breakfast Creek. This historic home is in the northern Brisbane suburb of Newstead.

The house was first built in 1846 as a small cottage. It was designed in a style called Colonial-Georgian. Over time, the house was made bigger. Today, it looks like a grand home from the late Victorian era.

Newstead House was built for Patrick Leslie and his wife Catherine in 1846. A year later, in 1847, Leslie sold the house to his brother-in-law, John Clements Wickham. Wickham was an important government official in the area.

Newstead House is a very important historical site. It was officially added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992. This means it is protected for future generations.

The Story of Newstead House

Newstead House – a beautiful side view

Newstead House is thought to be named after Newstead Abbey in England. This famous abbey was once a monastery and later became the home of the Byron family.

The property was simply called Newstead for many years. After John C. Wickham no longer owned it in 1859, people started calling it Newstead House.

Who Lived at Newstead House?

Newstead House was built by Andrew Petrie, who was Brisbane's first architect and builder. He built it for Patrick Leslie, a Scottish settler. Soon after, Captain John Wickham bought the house.

Over the years, many different people lived in or owned Newstead House. One important resident was George Harris. He was a merchant and a member of the Queensland Parliament. George Harris and his wife Jane lived in the house for 27 years.

Later, a well-known businessman named Lewis Flegeltaub lived there with his family from 1891 to 1894. His family had previously lived in another famous Brisbane mansion called Palma Rosa.

Newstead House and World War II

In 1918, the Brisbane City Council bought Newstead House. It became the home for the person in charge of the city's parks. In 1934, the Council let the Historical Society of Queensland use part of the property to store historical records.

During World War II, American soldiers used the building. There is a special memorial in the grounds to remember the help American troops gave Australia during the war. The Queensland Governor, Sir John Lavarack, opened this memorial on May 3, 1952.

Newstead House Today

After the war, Newstead House became a museum and a place for historical research. The Historical Society of Queensland ran it until 1973.

Today, Newstead House is still a museum. It is open for everyone to visit and learn about its past. Sometimes, special concerts are held at the house and in its beautiful gardens.

The Newstead House Board of Trustees looks after the house. They get help from a group of volunteers called the Friends of Newstead. These volunteers also plan events to bring more visitors to the house. The park around the house is still managed by the Brisbane City Council.

Newstead Park: A Historic Place

Newstead Park is a very old and important park. The land for the park was originally part of the property that Patrick Leslie bought in 1845. This is where he built Newstead House.

Park Features and History

In the 1920s, the Brisbane City Council built an electrical substation in the park. This substation helped power the city's tram system. When the tram system closed in 1969, the Newstead House Board of Trustees bought the substation. Now, it is used as a resource center and offices for the staff.

Every May, Newstead Park hosts an event to remember the Battle of the Coral Sea. This battle was very important during World War II. The Australian-American monument in the park honors the United States service members who helped defend Australia.

There is also a fun playground in the park. It has an "Alice through the Looking Glass" theme, which is based on the famous story. The Brisbane City Council built this playground for children to enjoy.

More to Explore

• Old Government House