Weetwood, Toowoomba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Weetwood, Toowoomba |
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Residence and gardens, 2014
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| Location | 427 Tor Street, Newtown, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1888 - |
| Architect | James Marks |
| Official name: Weetwood | |
| Type | state heritage (built, landscape) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600870 |
| Significant period | 1880s-1930s (historical) |
| Significant components | lawn/s, trees/plantings, residential accommodation - main house, kitchen/kitchen house, lead light/s, garden/grounds |
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Weetwood is a beautiful old house in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. It's a special type of building called a Georgian style villa. You can find it at 427 Tor Street in Newtown.
This amazing house was designed by a famous architect named James Marks. It was built starting in 1888. Because of its history and unique design, Weetwood was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's a protected historical site.
The Story of Weetwood
Weetwood is an fancy brick house that was built in 1888. It was made for a man named Richard William Scholefield.
Early Land Owners
The land where Weetwood stands today was first bought in 1862. It was part of a much larger piece of land. Three important people owned it together:
- James Taylor, who was a politician and Mayor of Toowoomba.
- Thomas George Robinson, a land salesman and the first Mayor of Toowoomba who was born in Australia.
- James Watts Grimes, a local auctioneer.
Over the years, the land changed hands a few times. In 1884, Richard William Scholefield bought a part of this land. He paid £200 for about 6 acres.
Richard William Scholefield's Life
Richard William Scholefield was born in England in 1844. He came to Australia in 1862 to gain "colonial experience" at Westbrook Station. He managed other stations before returning to Westbrook Station.
Later, he partnered with Francis Thomas Gregory in a business that bought and sold livestock. Their office was in Russell Street, Toowoomba.
Scholefield's Impact on Toowoomba
Richard Scholefield quickly became a well-known person in Toowoomba. He was a Justice of the Peace, which means he helped with legal matters. He was also a member of important local groups like the Downs Club and the Toowoomba Turf Club.
His land on Tor Street was right next to the racecourse. He was very involved with the Turf Club for many years. To honor his hard work, the club created the "Weetwood Handicap" horse race. This race is still held every March! Scholefield also helped out at the Toowoomba Hospital and the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland.
Building the Dream Home
After buying the land, Scholefield spent four years clearing it. But the house itself wasn't built until 1888. He kept very careful notes about the construction of Weetwood.
The house was designed by James Marks and built by Robert Godsall. Both men were well-known in Toowoomba. They had even worked together on St Patrick's Cathedral. James Marks was one of the most important architects in Toowoomba in the late 1800s. He designed many significant buildings.
Weetwood is considered one of Marks's best private homes. He made sure it was built perfectly. He even told the builders to be careful not to leave any paint stains! This shows how important it was for Weetwood to be a perfect home for Scholefield, his wife Eva, and their three children.
The house cost almost £2350 to build. Scholefield even had 21 cases of fancy furniture shipped from London! The house has four chimneys and a unique verandah roof made of corrugated iron. A special barrel-shaped entry porch with a fancy design leads to the verandah. The year '1888' is carved above the entrance.
Life at Weetwood
Construction finished smoothly, and the Scholefield family moved into Weetwood on January 1, 1889. The house was named after his father's home in England.
The property was huge, covering 6 acres. It had a tennis court and stables. Scholefield's daughter described the stables as "beautifully built" with space for horses, buggies, and even a room for a worker. The family also had a paddock for horses and cows, and a fowl yard. The large garden had many fruit trees and vegetables, cared for by a full-time gardener for 20 years.
Later Owners
Richard Scholefield passed away in 1902. His wife, Eva, continued to live in Weetwood until she died in 1939.
Over the years, Weetwood was sold to different owners. In 1948, part of the land was sold off, leaving Weetwood on its current 2-acre plot.
In 1954, Dr. Harry Ashton bought the house and lived there for 30 years. During this time, the beautiful cedar doors and wood trim were restored. In 1984, dentist Kevin Bennett and his wife Kerri bought Weetwood. They added a swimming pool, a shed, and new fences.
In 2020, the McAllister Family bought the property. They put it into the Weetwood Homestead Trust. They have been restoring the gardens and the circular driveway. Today, this historic home can be used for private events and ceremonies. The original stables are no longer on the property, but they are still nearby at 11 Tancred Avenue.
What Weetwood Looks Like
Weetwood is located on the corner of Tor and Higgins Streets in West Toowoomba. It sits on two large pieces of land, each about 4047 square meters. The property is next to the Clifford Park Racecourse.
The house is set back from the busy Tor Street, with lots of trees and plants around it. This helps to hide the house and make it feel peaceful. The house is built on a slightly raised area, about half a meter high.
House Design
Weetwood is a single-story house. Its main roof is shaped like a "U" and has a curved verandah roof on three sides. The special barrel-shaped entry porch with its fancy timber design stands out. The outside walls of the main house are made of brick. There's also a skillion-roofed extension on the back, covered in chamferboards.
All the roofs are made of corrugated iron. The main roof has decorative elements called acroteria. The roof overhang is supported by carved timber brackets.
Verandah Details
The verandah has low brick walls topped with painted timber boards. The posts are divided into two parts and have decorative carvings. On the front side, there are low timber seats between each post, acting like a simple fence. The verandah floor is made of narrow timber boards and is about 3 meters wide.
A short set of stairs leads to the front door. The timberwork around the front door is very fancy, a style that James Marks and his sons were known for. The front door itself has beautiful leadlight glass and timber panels. All the rooms facing the verandah have double doors with glass fanlights above them.
Inside Weetwood
Inside the main part of the house, there are six rooms that open off a central hallway. The hallway is divided by an arched opening.
Many rooms have beautiful fireplaces with carved timber mantelpieces. Some fireplaces are lined with ceramic tiles. The walls have plaster picture-rails.
The floors throughout the main house are made of wide Pine boards. In the dining room and kitchen, tiles have been laid over these boards. All the wooden trim, like skirting boards and architraves around doors, are made of polished Cedar. The ceilings in the main rooms are very high, about 4 meters. The walls are made of plaster.
At the back of the central hallway, a door leads to an area under the skillion roof. This area connects to a carport. The bathroom, a study, and a laundry room are located here. The original service area of the house would have been in this spot.
The Grounds and Gardens
Weetwood is surrounded by a large garden with many established trees and low plants. To the north, there's a paved driveway and a small shed. A vine hedge separates this area from a fenced swimming pool.
Along Tor Street, there are two tall Norfolk Island Pines. Near Higgins Street, there's a large Bunya Pine tree. There's also a big Bougainvillea plant between this tree and the house. In the back corner of the property, there's a smaller fenced area with a timber and iron shelter, which might have been the original fowl yard. All the property boundaries have timber fences.
Why Weetwood is Important
Weetwood was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992, because it meets several important requirements.
Showing Queensland's History
Weetwood was built in 1888, during a time when Queensland was growing fast. Toowoomba was becoming an important regional center. The grand size and style of Weetwood show how strong and wealthy Toowoomba was in the 1880s. It's a great example of a large home from the late 19th century.
Showing Special Building Styles
Weetwood is one of Toowoomba's grandest private homes from the late 1800s. It shows the main features of this type of building. It's a significant example of how homes were designed and built during that period.
Its Beautiful Look
Toowoomba has many historic buildings, and Weetwood is a well-preserved part of the local street view. Its unique and beautiful look makes it a valued part of the area.
The beauty of Weetwood comes from many things. These include the patterned brickwork and the perfect size of the barrel-vaulted entry porch with its fancy timber design. This timber design was a special feature of the architectural firm started by James Marks and his sons. Inside, the finely crafted timber mantelpieces and the high-quality wooden joinery (like doors and frames) are also very beautiful.
