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 Breakfast Creek bank of the Brisbane River in the suburb of Newstead. It started as a small cottage in 1846. Over time, it grew into a larger home. Today, it looks like a grand Victorian-style house.

The house was built for Patrick Leslie and his wife Catherine in 1846. A year later, in 1847, Leslie sold it to his brother-in-law, John Clements Wickham. Wickham was an important government official, serving as the Police Magistrate and Government Resident.

Newstead House is a very important historical site. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992. This means it is protected because of its special history and architecture.

The Story of Newstead House

Newstead House from the side.

Newstead House got its name from Newstead Abbey in England. This abbey was once a monastery and later became the home of the famous Byron family.

The property was first called "Newstead." After John Clements Wickham sold it in 1859, people started calling it "Newstead House."

Andrew Petrie, Brisbane's first architect, built the house for Patrick Leslie. Captain John Wickham soon bought it. Later, it was rented to important people like Attorney-General Ratcliffe Pring. It was also rented and sold to George Harris, a merchant and politician. George Harris and his wife Jane lived there for 27 years.

From 1891 to 1894, a well-known businessman named Lewis Flegeltaub lived in Newstead House with his family. They had lived in another historic mansion nearby called Palma Rosa before moving here.

In 1898, the Lysaght Brothers bought the property. They planned to knock down the house and build a factory. This factory would make iron and fencing wire. However, they changed their plans because of problems in the farming industry.

The Brisbane City Council bought Newstead House in 1918. It became the home for the person who managed the city's parks. In 1934, the Council rented part of the property to the Royal Historical Society of Queensland. This group used it to store old records. In 1939, the Queensland Parliament created a special group, the Newstead House Trust, to own and look after the house.

During World War II, American soldiers used the building. There is a special War Memorial on the grounds to remember their help. It was officially opened in 1952 by Sir John Lavarack, the Queensland Governor.

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 a museum that is open to everyone. Sometimes, concerts are held in the house and its beautiful gardens. The Newstead House Board of Trustees and a volunteer group called the Friends of Newstead help manage and care for the house. The Brisbane City Council still looks after Newstead Park.

Heritage Status

Newstead House was officially listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992. This listing helps protect its historical value for future generations.

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.

In the 1920s, the Brisbane City Council built a power station in the park. This station provided electricity for the city's tram system. When the tram system closed in 1969, the Newstead House Board of Trustees bought the building. It is now used as a resource center and offices for the staff.

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

There is also a fun playground in the park. It has an "Alice through the Looking Glass" theme and is located near Newstead Avenue.

See also

• Old Government House