The Mansions, Brisbane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Mansions, Brisbane |
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George Street corner Margaret Street façade of the Mansions.
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| Location | 40 George Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1889 |
| Architect | G.H.M. Addison |
| Architectural style(s) | Victorian architecture |
| Official name: The Mansions | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 August 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600119 |
| Significant period | 1880s onwards |
| Significant components | residential accommodation - terrace house/terrace, fence/wall - perimeter |
| Builders | RE Burton |
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The Mansions is a special group of six connected houses in Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia. It's located at 40 George Street, right on the corner of Margaret Street. These houses were designed by a famous architect named George Henry Male Addison and built in 1889.
The Mansions is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected. Its style is Victorian, with some Italianate touches.
A Look Back in Time
The Mansions was built in 1889. It's close to Parliament House in Brisbane. Architect George Henry Male Addison designed these six fancy brick houses. RE Burton built them for £11,700.
Three important Queensland politicians invested in The Mansions. They were Boyd Dunlop Morehead (who was the Premier), William Pattison (the Treasurer), and John Stevenson. They built these houses during a time when Brisbane was growing very fast.
Brisbane's Early Days
Since the 1820s, the area around George and William Streets has been important for government. When Brisbane was a penal settlement (a prison colony), government officials lived and worked here. After the prison closed in 1842, the old buildings helped surveyors plan the new town.
The streets were laid out based on the old prison structures. Queen Street followed the prisoner's barracks. William Street followed a line of buildings along the ridge. Other streets, like George Street, were surveyed parallel to these, creating Brisbane's grid.
Government Hub
Even after the prison, the government kept its strong presence in this area. After separation of Queensland in 1859, the new government built many important buildings. Government House and Parliament House were built in the 1860s. This made the eastern end of George Street a clear government area.
Having Parliament House nearby had a big effect. Many early politicians were pastoralists (ranchers). They, along with public servants, needed places to stay in Brisbane. So, from the 1860s to the 1880s, many buildings were constructed for them.
Brisbane's Growth in the 1880s
In the 1880s, Brisbane was becoming a big city. Many new people moved there, and the population grew a lot. This led to a boom in building. More architects, builders, and contractors were needed.
New stone buildings appeared, like the Customs House and parts of the Treasury Building. The number of homes almost doubled. Land prices went up very high. The Mansions was built during this exciting time.
The Mansions' Owners and Architect
The land for The Mansions was first bought in 1852 by James Gibbon. Later, in 1882, it was sold to William Williams, a successful businessman. In 1888, Williams sold the land to the three politicians: Pattison, Morehead, and Stevenson. They were friends and business partners.
- Boyd Dunlop Morehead (1843-1905) was a rancher, businessman, and politician. He was the Premier of Queensland.
- William Pattison (1830–96) was a businessman, mine director, and politician.
- John Stevenson was a rancher and politician.
These three men hired George Henry Male Addison to design their new houses. Addison was a talented architect. He had moved from Melbourne to Brisbane. His buildings were known for being fancy and detailed. He often used red brick with stone details and steep roofs. Other buildings he designed include the Albert Street Uniting Church in Brisbane.
Addison asked for builders to bid on the project in 1888. RE Burton's bid of £11,600 was accepted.
Design and Style
The Mansions was designed to look impressive. It used high-quality materials and lots of decorations. The six houses were connected but looked like one grand building. They had arcades (covered walkways with arches) on the front, which provided shade.
The design was perfect for Queensland's climate. A newspaper called The Boomerang described them as "unique" and built in the "Queen Anne style" with red brick and stone. They said the fireplaces were "very rich" and specially imported.
Addison himself described them as "convenient and roomy," with three living rooms and ten bedrooms, plus servants' quarters. The front was brick with Oomaroo stone (from New Zealand) details.
Terraced Houses in Queensland
Terraced houses, like The Mansions, were not very common in Queensland. A law called the Undue Subdivision of Land Prevention Act 1885 made it hard to build them. This law set minimum sizes for land plots. This meant terraced houses were mostly built as investments for renting out.
The Mansions was the grandest and most ambitious terraced house project of its time in Queensland.
Early Residents and Challenges
Fancy tenants started moving into The Mansions in 1889. However, an economic downturn in the early 1890s meant not all houses were full. This downturn affected the building industry first. Land and rent values dropped.
Despite this, important people lived there. In 1889, two members of parliament, William Pattison and Hume Black, lived there. Doctors also used the houses as offices. In 1891, Dr. Lilian Violet Cooper, Queensland's first woman doctor and Australia's first female surgeon, set up her practice there.
From 1896 to 1954, The Mansions was mostly used as boarding houses. Many professional families stayed there.
Government Ownership and Changes
The ownership of The Mansions changed several times. In 1898, it went to the Queensland National Bank. Later, it was sold to Gerard and Christiana Gore in 1912. In 1947, it was sold to three new owners who ran three boarding houses in the villas.
In 1954, the Queensland Government bought The Mansions. They needed more office space after World War II. The government was expanding its activities in Brisbane. They bought many buildings on George and William Streets to create a "government precinct."
The Mansions was changed to become government offices. Many original features were removed or altered. Walls were moved, new doors were made, and fireplaces were blocked. The beautiful dado panelling and leadlight windows were taken out.
Various government departments used The Mansions until the 1970s.
Saving The Mansions
By the 1960s, the government planned to demolish many old buildings in the area, including The Mansions. They wanted to build new high-rise offices. However, people started to care more about saving old buildings.
In 1973, the National Trust of Queensland began a public campaign to save The Mansions and the nearby Bellevue Hotel. They highlighted the buildings' history and beauty. The Builders Labourers Federation even put a "green ban" on The Mansions, meaning workers refused to demolish it.
Sadly, the Bellevue Hotel was demolished in 1979. This caused a huge public outcry. But The Mansions was saved! Its servants' wings and stables were demolished later in 1979, but the main building remained.
Restoration and Modern Use
After being saved, The Mansions went through a big renovation from 1983-1984. Many of the 1950s changes were removed. However, some original parts were also taken out or rebuilt. New features like a lift and air conditioning were added.
On April 28, 1986, Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen officially reopened the renovated Mansions. After this, it housed professional offices and fancy shops. A restaurant also opened there.
Since then, only small changes have been made, like updating services and adding disability access. In 2015, it was announced that The Mansions would be restored again. It will become a high-end tea house, dining spot, bar, and serviced apartments as part of the Queen's Wharf Redevelopment.
What The Mansions Looks Like
The Mansions is a three-story building made of brick and stone. It stands on a high ridge at the corner of Margaret and George Streets in Brisbane. It's surrounded by other old government buildings, like Parliament House and the Treasury Building. It looks very striking and decorative on the street.
The building is made of face brick with light-colored limestone details. It has a painted corrugated steel roof. A brick fence with wrought iron panels sits in front of it on George Street.
The Mansions looks like six separate houses, but they are all connected. The front of the building has a deep arcade (a series of arches) on the ground and first floors along both streets. The top floor is partly hidden within the roof. Each house has an octagonal (eight-sided) bay window that sticks out into the arcade.
The house on the corner of Margaret Street is bigger and has a unique layout. It has two larger octagonal bay windows that project fully to the street. Its entrance is from Margaret Street.
Architectural Details
The Mansions is designed in a Victorian style with Italianate influences. The arcade is very decorative. It has thin cast iron columns with Ionic capitals (the tops of columns). There are also carved limestone panels. The entrances have triangular pediments (decorative tops).
Two sculpted limestone cats sit on top of the decorative wall (parapet) on the George Street side. These white details and cat sculptures were made from Oamaru limestone imported from New Zealand.
At the back of the building, there are wings with timber verandas on the ground and first floors. These are separated by courtyards. The back walls show where old service wings used to be.
Inside The Mansions
The inside of The Mansions has been changed a lot over the years. Originally, each house was separate. Now, openings connect them. The decorative fittings inside are reproductions (copies) of the originals. Suspended ceilings hide air-conditioning ducts. A lift and other modern facilities have also been added.
Why The Mansions is Special
The Mansions was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on August 21, 1992. It meets several important criteria:
It shows how Queensland's history has changed. The Mansions shows how Brisbane grew rapidly in the 1880s. It also shows how lower George Street became a fancy residential area, then later a government office area after World War II. Its survival also shows how public opinion helped save historical buildings in the 1970s and 1980s.
It's a rare example of its kind. The Mansions is a great example of 19th-century terraced housing. This type of housing was uncommon in Queensland and is now rare. It's a special and grand example of prestigious terraced housing from that time.
It can teach us about Queensland's past. There might be old items or foundations at the back of The Mansions. These could tell us more about the servants and kitchens that were once there.
It shows what a typical terraced house looks like. The Mansions shows the main features of late 19th-century terraced housing. This includes shared walls, repeated designs, and a long, narrow house plan. It's a fine and rare example of fancy terraced housing in Queensland. It shows how wealthy Queenslanders lived back then.
It's also an excellent example of George Henry Male Addison's work. He made a big impact on Queensland's buildings. His designs were ornate and unique, using brickwork and stone details.
It's beautiful to look at. The Mansions is important for its architectural beauty. The way the brickwork, stone details, shady arcades, gardens, and roof are put together is very skillful. It makes the George and Margaret Streets area look very striking.
It has a strong connection to the community. The Mansions is important to Queenslanders who care about heritage. It was a key part of the National Trust of Queensland's campaign to save it and the Bellevue Hotel in the 1970s. This campaign had a lot of public support and led to The Mansions being saved from demolition.
Gallery
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The Mansions — George Street façade
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Cat sculpture on the parapet of the Mansions — Margaret Street façade
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The Mansions and Parliament House
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The Mansions — George Street façade
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The Mansions (as viewed from Alice Street) — George Street façade
