Redlands, Toowoomba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Redlands |
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Redlands, now Concordia Lutheran College Administration Centre, 1992
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| Location | 154 Stephen Street, Harristown, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1889 - 1930s circa |
| Built for | Edmund Wilcox |
| Architect | James Marks |
| Official name: Concordia College Administration Centre, Redlands | |
| Type | state heritage (built, landscape) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600869 |
| Significant period | 1880s-1910s (historical) 1880s-1930s? (fabric) 1940s- (social) |
| Significant components | lead light/s, garden - bed/s, lawn/s, residential accommodation - main house, sports field/oval/playing field, tree groups - avenue of, carriage way/drive, garden/grounds |
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Redlands is a beautiful old house in Harristown, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its importance. The house was designed by a famous architect named James Marks. It was built starting in 1889 and finished around the 1930s. Today, Redlands is known as the Administration Centre for Concordia Lutheran College.
Contents
History of Redlands
Redlands is a large, two-storey house made of brick. It was built in 1889 for Edmund Wilcox. He was a successful merchant, which means he bought and sold goods. Mr. Wilcox was also a very important person in Toowoomba. The house was designed by James Marks, a well-known architect from Toowoomba. Henry Andrews was the builder.
Early Days and Owners
When it was first built, Redlands sat on a big piece of land, about 28 acres. This land was close to Drayton Road, not far from Toowoomba. Edmund Wilcox had learned about business in Ipswich and Toowoomba. Later, he and his brother Robert started their own company, Wilcox Brothers merchants.
Mr. Wilcox enjoyed farming as a hobby. So, Redlands originally had many smaller buildings. These included stables for horses, a room for harnesses, and a carpenter's shop. There were also rooms for hay, a coach house, and even pens for chickens, pigs, and cows.
Building Materials and Design
The foundations of Redlands are said to be made from local bluestone. The bricks came from a local company in Toowoomba. The glass for the windows was supplied by a company in Brisbane. Even the iron railings on the balcony were made by the Toowoomba Foundry.
The roof of Redlands is made of corrugated iron. It is believed to be the original roof, imported all the way from England. You can even see the stamp of the company that made it on each sheet!
When the house was built, a long line of Norfolk and Bunya pine trees was planted. These trees still line the path leading up to Redlands today. Mr. Wilcox also created a special "teardrop" shaped garden at the front. It even had a fountain, though the original fountain has been replaced since then.
Changing Hands and Purpose
After he retired, Edmund Wilcox sold Redlands in 1919 to Dr. Alexander Horn. In 1921, Redlands was sold again to Mr. Edward Farmer, who was a grazier (someone who raises livestock like cattle or sheep).
In 1945, the Lutheran Church decided to buy Redlands from Mr. Farmer's widow. They paid about £5000 for the property. In 1946, Redlands officially became Concordia Lutheran College. It started as a school for both boys and girls who lived there.
Since then, Redlands has been used for many things at Concordia College. It was once the home of the first Headmaster and his family. It has also served as offices and other important spaces for the college. In the 1960s, many new school buildings were added around the grounds. Today, Redlands is the main administration building for the college.
What Redlands Looks Like
Redlands is a two-storey brick building. It sits on flat ground and faces a beautiful, formal garden. To get to the building, you drive along a long path lined with tall pine trees. The roof of the building is shaped like a "U" and is made of corrugated iron. It has wide eaves with decorative brackets. There are also verandahs (porches) on the east, north, and west sides of the house. These verandahs have curved corrugated iron awnings.
Outside Features
The front of the house, facing north, looks the same on both sides. It has a part that sticks out, like a double-storey porch, with stone steps leading up to it. There's a cross at the very top. The verandahs have wooden posts and fancy cast iron railings.
The corners of the ground floor verandahs have colourful stained glass. They also have decorative pressed metal panels. The bricks on the house are laid in a special pattern called Flemish bond. The corners of the building have painted blocks that look like stone.
On the ground floor, there are bay windows that stick out. The main entrance on the north side has a beautiful arched doorway. It has stained glass above the door and on the sides. The first floor also has a central entrance with French doors. These doors have stained glass inserts with painted birds.
Inside Features
Inside Redlands, there is a central hallway with a carved cedar staircase. The walls on the ground floor are smooth. The ceilings are made of elaborate pressed metal with different designs. All the wooden parts, like doors and window frames, are made of cedar wood.
One room has a black marble fireplace with hand-painted tiles showing birds. Another room has a white marble fireplace. Other rooms have carved wooden fireplaces, all with painted tiles. The entrance area has an arched doorway with patterned glass. The first floor has wallpapered walls and wooden ceilings.
Gardens and Surroundings
The formal garden in front of the house is shaped like a circle. It has a central fountain and a flagpole. There are hedges around the edges and garden beds shaped like the school's initials. The rest of the garden is covered in green lawn.
A covered path connects Redlands to newer classroom and staff buildings behind it. Other school buildings, mostly two-storey brick, have been built around Redlands since the late 1950s. Playing fields are located on either side of the entrance drive. This keeps the northern view from Redlands open and clear.
Why Redlands is Important
Redlands was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it is a very important historical place. It meets several special requirements to be on this list.
Historical Importance
Redlands was built in 1889. It helps us understand how Toowoomba grew and changed in the late 1880s. It shows the kind of large homes built during that time.
Architectural Beauty
The building has many beautiful features that people in Toowoomba value. This includes the decorative front of the house. The quality of the cedar wood, the pressed metal ceilings, the marble fireplaces, and the stained glass are all very well made. The way the building, the northern garden, and the pine tree avenue are laid out also makes Stephen Street and Toowoomba look very special.
Community Connection
Redlands has a strong connection to Concordia College. It was the very first building for the college and where the school was officially started.
Important People
The house is also linked to the life of Edmund Wilcox, who was a very important businessman in Toowoomba. It is also a great example of the homes designed by the famous Toowoomba architect, James Marks.
