Weemalla facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Weemalla
Residence in 2014
Location	62 Ruthven Street, Corinda, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1900–14 (early 20th century)
Built	1908–09
Architect	Robin Dods
Architectural style(s)	Arts & Crafts
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Weemalla, Steele House
Type	state heritage
Designated	9 August 2013
Reference no.	602820
Builders	Hall and Mayer
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Weemalla is a special old house in Corinda, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia. It was designed by a famous architect named Robin Dods. The house was built between 1908 and 1909 by a company called Hall and Mayer. It's also known as Steele House. This important building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on August 9, 2013, which means it's protected because of its history and design.

Weemalla's Early Days

Weemalla was built in 1908-09 for Robert Moore Steele. He was the Queensland manager for a company called Victorian Insurance Company Ltd. This house is a great example of how Robin Dods designed homes for wealthy people.

Corinda's Growth

Corinda is about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Brisbane's city center. It started as farmland in the 1860s. When a railway bridge opened in 1876, more people moved to the area. Brisbane's population grew a lot in the 1880s. Many plots of land were sold, and new houses were built. In the 1890s, Corinda was a quiet suburb. It had large homes for rich families mixed with small farms.

Wealthy people in Brisbane often built their homes on hills or by the river. This kept them away from city noise and pollution. The breezes also helped keep them cool in summer. Robert Moore Steele, Weemalla's first owner, was part of this upper-middle-class group. Corinda Hill was a popular spot for these fancy homes.

Robert Moore Steele's Life

Robert Moore Steele was the manager of the Victoria Insurance Company Ltd. He moved to Brisbane in 1901. He was a member of the exclusive Brisbane Club. He also joined the Toowong Bowling Club, which was a sport for elite people back then. Steele, his wife, and son came from South Australia. They first lived in Toowong and then Indooroopilly, both middle-class areas.

In April 1908, Steele bought two plots of land for his new house. The next month, the architecture firm Hall & Dods advertised for builders. Hall & Mayer won the job. The house was finished in 1908-09 and cost £953.

Meet the Architect: Robin Dods

The firm Hall & Dods was a partnership between architects Francis Richard Hall and Robin Dods. Dods (1868-1920) was born in New Zealand. He trained as an architect in Scotland and England. He learned from famous architects who used the Arts and Crafts style.

Dods' Training and Style

Dods started his career in Edinburgh in 1886. He became good friends with Robert Lorimer, another Arts and Crafts architect. In 1890, Dods moved to London. He worked for notable architect Aston Webb. In 1891, he joined the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Dods came to Brisbane in 1894. He won a competition to design a nurses' home at the Brisbane General Hospital. He returned to Brisbane in 1896 and started his firm with Francis Hall. Dods is known as one of Australia's most important early 20th-century architects. He was one of the few to use the Arts and Crafts style in Queensland.

What is Arts and Crafts?

The Arts and Crafts movement was a design style popular from 1860 to 1910. It focused on traditional craftsmanship and simple forms. It often used medieval or folk styles for decoration. This style valued local traditions, making designs fit their surroundings.

Arts and Crafts buildings look strong and heavy. They have wide porches and steep, noticeable roofs. They show off the natural look of materials. Their designs are often not perfectly balanced (asymmetrical).

Hall & Dods' Impact

Hall & Dods was very important for modern design in Brisbane. They created many great buildings. Dods was the main designer. He mixed British design ideas with Queensland's traditional housing. He also made sure houses worked well in the subtropical climate. His houses were practical, attractive, and had fine details. The partnership ended in 1913 when Dods moved to Sydney. He passed away in 1920.

Dods' House Designs

Dods' houses used local building methods. They were often made of timber. A key feature was their solid, strong look. This came from their large roofs, which often covered the verandah and a back washhouse. The roofs were simple and often had terracotta tiles or flat iron sheeting. Corrugated iron was only used to save money.

His houses were usually low to the ground. They often had enclosed spaces underneath, making them look even more solid. Individual parts of the house were made extra large to seem strong. Dark, earthy colors, stained timber, and rough-sawn wood gave the houses a weighty feel. Materials were chosen to age well, giving the house an established look over time.

Inside Dods' Homes

Dods' houses had formal entry halls. Living spaces were placed to get good sunlight. The layouts allowed air to flow through, keeping them cool. They also had informal spaces, like large verandah piazzas. These were big, open areas for outdoor living. Sometimes, timber screens were added to the verandahs. This made them comfortable in most weather.

Interiors had beautiful timber work and built-in cupboards. Fireplace surrounds were also a special feature.

Unique Facades

The front of Dods' houses often looked balanced, but weren't perfectly so. Entrances were sometimes off-center or at an angle. They were highlighted by wide, impressive stairs. Bay windows and corner fireplaces were common in his designs.

Gardens and Settings

Dods also designed gardens to go with his houses. This was more common in Britain than in Queensland. His gardens often had formal flower beds, terraces, and walls. They might include tennis courts, hedges, and ornamental trees. Paths and lawns were arranged in geometric patterns. He even designed garden furniture and fences.

Weemalla's Features

Weemalla shows all of Dods' special design touches. It's a low-set timber house with a large, well-designed roof. The front of the house faces north. The land slopes to the north-east, which is perfect for sunlight and breezes.

Exterior Details

The front of the house looks balanced, with a small gable (a triangular wall section) at each end. But the inside layout is not perfectly symmetrical. Wide entry stairs with large railings are under the eastern gable. The western gable has an enclosed room and a hexagonal bay window.

The entry stairs lead to a wide verandah piazza. This area takes advantage of the north-eastern corner, offering distant views. You enter the house at a 90-degree angle into a small, square entry hall. This hall has a bay window with a built-in timber seat. The front door has special glass and a large, semi-circular fanlight above it.

Interior Layout

A central hallway runs from the front to the back of the house. Bedrooms are on the west side, and living rooms are on the east. The lounge and dining room are the main living areas. They open onto the front verandah piazza. The dining room has a large fireplace with a timber mantel.

Verandahs wrap around all sides of the house. They connect to a large back hall at the rear. The western verandah, facing Dewar Terrace, is partly enclosed. This gives privacy to the nearby bedrooms and helps control the sun. The northern end of this verandah is enclosed to form a bathroom. Service areas, like the kitchen and laundry, are at the back of the house.

Rooms and Finishes

Most rooms have timber floors, walls, and ceilings. They have decorative timber details like skirtings and cornices. Ceilings are generally high, about 3.3 metres (11 ft). The main living rooms have more elaborate details. The dining room has a fireplace with a decorative timber and marble surround.

Internal doors are timber with panels. They have fanlights above them that can be opened. French doors with glass panels open onto the verandahs from most rooms. Many original door and window handles are still there. The house also has several built-in storage cupboards. An old bell system still works, with buttons in the main bedroom and drawing room connected to bells in the back hall.

The kitchen, pantry, and a servant's room open from the back hall. The kitchen has a fireplace. The laundry is under the kitchen and has a concrete floor. It still has old features like a concrete washtub.

Later Changes

A small timber building was added to the back of the house in 1964. It has a bedroom and bathroom. This part is not considered historically important. Other small changes have happened over time. Parts of the verandahs have been enclosed with glass. A carport was added around 1989. An in-ground swimming pool was built on the eastern side.

The Garden

The garden has large trees like Jacaranda, Camphor Laurel, and Macadamia. An old timber fence post is at the north-west corner of the yard. It shows that the fences were different on each street. The property also has a carport and a swimming pool.

The north-eastern verandah piazza offers views of the suburbs. It's in a great spot to catch cool summer breezes and winter sun.

Why Weemalla is Important

Weemalla was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on August 9, 2013, for several reasons:

• It shows how much Robin Dods helped shape Queensland's architecture.
• It gives us a look into the lives of wealthy Brisbane families in the early 1900s. It also shows how Brisbane grew as a business center.
• Weemalla is a beautiful example of Dods' high-quality work. It shows his focus on tradition, strength, and honest use of materials. It's an Arts and Crafts style house with large timber parts, a verandah piazza, and a steep roof. It also has finely detailed built-in furniture and a smart layout for air flow and sunlight.
• The house sits on a hill in a leafy area. Its low-set design and large roof give it a special Arts and Crafts look. It's known for its great craftsmanship and clever mix of formal and informal living spaces. Its generous verandahs and spacious rooms create a feeling of simple, elegant home life.