A landmark Victorian terrace mansion, heritage listed ‘Florence House’, 256 Petrie Terrace, Petrie Terrace, Brisbane, Queensland, was constructed in 1874 and stands today as a reminder of Brisbane’s colonial history.
Decades of grandeur, followed by a downhill spiral of wrack and ruin, led to David C. Tyler undertaking the refurbishment of this unique property in 1983. An acclaimed restoration consultant and master builder, David’s portfolio of projects include restoring ‘The Terrace Houses’ at Petrie Terrace. An aficionado of constructing traditional homes in keeping with age old methods, his works of art stand proudly at numerous addresses along Gregory Terrace, Spring Hill and in Hamilton.
David won the Queensland Master Builders’ Association Award for Excellence in Presentation, and the Advance Australia Award in 1988, for his contribution to heritage.
Jonzun had the pleasure of interviewing David last year. To read or revisit the article, follow this link to discover this man’s fascinating passion for preserving the past.
256 Petrie Terrace, Petrie Terrace
The land on which ‘Florence House’ stands was originally part of a one acre, two rood and 18 perches holding. Then referred to as Allotment No. 308, it was first purchased on 16 September 1861 for £403.2.6, by the Catholic Bishop of Queensland, the Right Reverend James Quinn of Brisbane. An astute businessman, Quinn set about buying and selling land with the intention of procuring profits to fund the expansion of the Catholic education system in the colony. By November 1861, he had bought Lots 306, 307, 309 and 310, to bring the Catholic Church’s landholding in Petrie Terrace and Red Hill to seven acres and nine perches. Aptly, the area became known as ‘Bishop’s Hill.’
Quinn subdivided the land into smaller house blocks in preparation for sale. On 31 October 1865, Wellesley A. Nicholson Condell purchased subdivision 2 of Section 4 of Lot 308 (256 Petrie Terrace) and mortgaged the property on the day to secure a bank loan from William Newton. It is suspected that the loan wasn’t repaid, as Newton seized the estate in 1868 and put it on the market
A brief timeline
Ownership changed over the years, though it was mainly passed around the Holmes family.
· 21 August, 1868 – Sold to Nancy Susannah Macnish (wife of William Macnish)
· 13 February, 1872 – Acquired by Louisa Marianne Elizabeth Holmes (wife of Henry Holmes)
· 8 April, 1872 – Louisa Holmes gave control of the property to her appointed trustees Thomas P. Dudgeon and Francis Holmes
· 22 January, 1874 – Henry Holmes secures the site to build an investment house, then mortgages the land to secure £400 to possibly fund the project
Henry lived at Cricket Street and was operating a building business. It is highly likely that he built ‘Florence House’ and it is suspected that it was designed by Brisbane architect Richard Gailey. Taking its cues from Sydney’s terraces, the stand alone brick and stone home offered two storey’s to maximise the small block size. The ridgeline position, city outlook, Hardgreave Park views and eastern breezes created a desirable setting for his prestigious gentlemen’s residence.
‘Florence House’ was advertised in the To Let section of The Brisbane Courier on 10 October 1874, and the first tenant was solicitor A. Godfrey
“The commodious Residence known as FLORENCE HOUSE, Petrie-terrace, one of the largest and best-finished gentlemen’s residence about the city. Apply to James R. Dickson, Queen-street.”
Holmes purchased adjoining subdivision 3 of Section 4 of Lot 308 on 4 December 1874, then promptly mortgaged Lot 2 for a second time. With debts mounting and additional mortgages accruing, Holmes advertised the proposed auction of ‘Florence House’ in the Brisbane Courier on 12 August, 1879.
The auction didn’t eventuate, and Holmes mortgaged ‘Florence House’ on 8 September, 1879. Going further into debt, on 20 December 1881 he sold off all the furnishings and chattels at a positive unreserved sale.
Fortunately for Holmes, in 1883 he was successful in securing a contract to construct the first buildings for the Girls Grammar School. He received a second tender in 1886 to erect boarders’ quarters for the Brisbane Boys Grammar School.
Meanwhile, during 1883, John Deazeley, the proprietor of a well-known Queen Street photographic studio was renting ‘Florence House.’
Next spate of tenure
· 14 August 1885 – Henry Holmes sells to Behr Raphael Lewin, who continues to utilise the home as an up-market investment property
· 15 October 1886 – Lewin sold to Adolphus Marcus Hertzberg, who also bought Lot 3 on the same day
· 1887 – Adolphus Hertzberg (ex-mayor of Roma) moves into ‘Florence House’ with his wife Miriam
Adolphus and his brother were successful wholesale merchants (A.M. Hertzberg & Co.) operating from Charlotte Street. They were respected members of Brisbane’s Jewish and business communities. Sometime in 1898, Hertzberg and Miriam moved to Bowen Terrace, New Farm.
Petrie Terrace loses its charm
Old and run down, at the turn of the 20th century, Petrie Terrace was no longer a desirable address. Attracted to Brisbane’s newer suburbs, the well heeled left in droves for greener pastures. Many of the once lavish abodes were converted into boarding houses, including ‘Florence House’.
On the 30 September 1908, 256 Petrie Terrace and the adjoining block were transferred to the Royal Bank of Queensland, until they disposed of these at the end of World War I.
From this time on, a succession of investors continued to use ‘Florence House’ to provide cheap accommodation. During the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s Petrie Terrace was considered to be a slum.
Moving walls around
· Between 1946 to 1951 – ‘Florence House’ was repurposed as two flats
· 19 April 1951 – Iris Goodman received Brisbane City Council’s approval to reinstate as a single residence
· July, 1952 – The next owner Walter Ludewig changed it back to a boarding house
· In the early 80s – there were still 17 registered rooms available for rent
Thanks to a real estate boom in the 1980s and a revival in rejuvenating historic homes, in 1981 ‘Florence House’ was bought by Arnold & Smith Drafting Pty Limited. In September 1983, David Tyler was awarded an $80,000 contract to restore the home.
Drawing inspiration from the place next door, Tyler designed a near identical twin.
In just seven months, David transformed the derelict house into a stately residence. He was assisted by a team of dedicated tradespeople, who specialised in traditional methods of building. Still in place today, the beautifully crafted plasterwork, timberwork, staircase bannisters and cast iron railings, reflect his dedication to authenticity.
A legacy for generations to come
A fine example of the Victorian era, ‘Florence House’ is a home for lovers of history, elegance and exquisite craftsmanship. This beauty of yesteryear is instilled with old world charm yet offers modern convenience.
Showcases
Grandiose living rooms of luxurious proportions befit every occasion
Soaring cathedral ceilings complemented by antique light fittings
Long hallway features original quarry tiles and embellished mirrors
One-of-a-kind cedar staircase, skirting boards, joinery and doors
Plasterwork includes ornate ceiling roses, cornices and archways
Majestic façade with cast iron urns, ironwork verandahs, flagpole
‘Florence House’ was placed on the Brisbane City Local Heritage Places register on 1 January, 2004. It’s described as a Filigree style Terrace House of the Victorian 1860-1890 period.
References
Profile of David C. Tyler – portfolio of works and memorabilia
Petrie-Terrace Brisbane 1858-1988, Its ups and downs by Steve Woolcock and Rod Fisher
Cathedral of St. Stephen History Timeline
Australian Dictionary of Biography
James Quinn First Catholic Bishop of Brisbane (thesis), Yvonne Margaret (Anne) McLay , B.A., M.Ed .
Brisbane City Local Heritage Places register
State Library of Queensland
Trove
Notes provided by Jonzun Lee