Residence, Abbott Street facts for kids

The Residence at 41 Abbott Street is a special old house in New Farm, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by a famous architect named Robin Dods and built in 1900. People also know it as Hart Residence or Narallen. This house is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on April 28, 2000. This means it's protected because of its history and unique design.

A Look Back: The House's Story

This house was built in 1900 by the architect Robin Dods. He designed it as a house for his mother to rent out. It was built right next to his own house.

How New Farm Grew

After the Moreton Bay penal settlement closed in 1842, Brisbane became open for everyone to live there. Surveyors started planning the New Farm area as early as 1839. Large pieces of land were sold in the 1840s and 1850s. Nearby Fortitude Valley started to grow into a residential area in the 1850s.

New Farm grew more slowly, but by the mid-1860s, more people started moving there. Important people like Samuel Griffith, who later became the Premier, bought land in New Farm in 1870. Edward Robert Drury, a bank manager, also bought land and built his home there in 1875. By 1883-1884, many homes had been built in New Farm.

Transport and Development

Public transport helped New Farm grow even more. In 1884, Brisbane got its first tram tracks. The tram system became electric in 1895. Even though some factories were in New Farm, many homes continued to be built. Private buses also helped people get around in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Who Owned the Land?

The land where the house stands was first given to John McConnell in January 1845. Then, in June 1899, it was transferred to Elizabeth Gray Marks, who was Robin Dods' mother. The next year, Dods designed this house for his mother and another one for himself. Both were built in 1900 on neighboring properties. Elizabeth Marks passed away in 1908, but the house stayed in the family for 70 more years.

Robin Dods: A Special Architect

Robin Dods, along with his partner Francis Richard Hall, changed architecture in Brisbane. For his houses, Dods improved how local timber was used. He designed verandahs (porches), outside stairs, and special roofs that let air flow through. Many of his ideas were copied by other builders. He also had unique ideas, like using "blind" bay windows on narrow plots of land.

Abbott Street, New Farm, 2005

This house is part of a special area in New Farm called the Sydney Street precinct. Sydney Street is one of the oldest streets in New Farm. Many important houses designed by architects are found along this street and nearby. Robin Dods' own house was sold when he moved to Sydney in 1913. It was later torn down around 1970 to build apartment units. The Abbott Street house has had some changes, but it is still mostly original. It is a great example of Robin Dods' house designs.

What the House Looks Like

The house at 41 Abbott Street is a single-story building made of timber. It has brick fireplaces and chimneys. The roof is very steep and made of corrugated iron, which is a wavy metal material. In 1999, an upper floor with a dormer window (a window that sticks out from the roof) was added, facing Abbott Street.

Outside Features

The eastern and northern sides of the house have verandahs (covered porches). The western side extends over a laundry area on the ground floor. This laundry area has timber lattice work, which is a criss-cross pattern, for extra protection. Most of the verandah is still the same as it was built, except for a small part near the kitchen that has been closed in.

Inside the House

Inside, the rooms open onto the verandahs through wide French doors. These doors have "breezeway" parts above them, which help air flow through the house. The dining room has a fireplace with marble around it. It also has a "blind" bay window, which is a window that sticks out but doesn't have a view of the neighboring house. Dods used this design to focus views towards the street or garden. The kitchen has a bay window too, but this one was added more recently.

Why This House is Special

The Residence at 41 Abbott Street was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on April 28, 2000. This means it meets certain important standards.

Showing History

This house helps us understand how the New Farm area continued to grow in the early 1900s. It shows how the area became a popular place for homes after the mid-1880s.

A Great Example of Design

The house shows many features that Robin Dods liked in his designs. These include:

• Thinking about the climate: The house is built and planned to suit the weather, with verandahs and large doors. The big, sheltering roof with a ventilated ridge also helps keep it cool.
• Respecting tradition: It's built from timber and good quality materials, showing traditional building methods.
• Good proportions and details: You can see this in the strong verandah posts and brackets.
• Unique features: Inside, the "blind" bay window is a special design often found in Dods' work.

Beautiful and Important

The house adds to the historic look of the Sydney Street precinct, which includes Abbott Street. Even though Dods' own house is gone, many of the original homes in this area are still there.

Important to the Community

The house has been recognized by the Brisbane City Council as a "Significant Character Item" in their study of New Farm and Teneriffe Hill. This means it's important to the local community and its history.

Connected to a Famous Architect

This house was designed by Robin Dods, who is known as one of the best architects in Brisbane. Dods brought new ideas about architecture from the United Kingdom, and these ideas influenced Australian building design.