Inchcolm, Wickham Terrace

The medical fraternity started to congregate on Wickham Terrace from the 1880s onwards. A Dr John Thompson built his house, Inchcolm, which included rooms for his medical practice, on the Terrace in that decade. His house later became a private hospital. In 1929, a group of doctors bought the site and set about erecting a purpose built multi-storey medical facility. The architect was Mr Percy Trewern and the builder was JI Green, and it was finished in 1930. Here it is, as photographed in 1996 when it was still being used as medical suites.
(Photograph: Courtesy DEWHA and J Houldsworth)

In 1999 the four-storey building was converted into a boutique hotel, including a restaurant run by award-winning chef Russell Armstrong on the ground floor. Here is a current photograph.
(Photo: © 2010 the foto fanatic)

A feature of the interior of The Inchcolm Hotel is the old lift, surrounded by wire mesh. A staircase circles around the lift up to the top floor. Friends have stayed here and were very complimentary about the hotel. And, having eaten at the restaurant Seasalt, I can certainly recommend that.

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Dods House, Wickham Terrace

Dr Espie Dods was already practicing on Wickham Terrace before he moved further up the hill to Callender House. His earlier rooms were at 97 Wickham Terrace, in a building designed for him by his architect brother, Robin, pictured below.
(Photo: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; #107372)

Built around 1906, the house was a combined residence and surgery as were several other buildings on "The Terrace" at that time. In fact the Dods brothers' step-father, Dr Charles Marks, lived next door in the house that was demolished in 1982 to allow the construction of Silverton, a multi-storey development that stands on that site now.
(Photo: Courtesy K Charlton and DEWHA)

The combined house and surgery that Robin Dods designed for his brother is still standing. Around the time that Silverton was constructed next door, it was converted to a restaurant known as Dods House - a tribute to the Dods brothers. It is shown above in a photograph from 1983. One night many years ago, I was dining there and saw George Negus of 60 Minutes fame. Back when he was a humble high school teacher, Negus happened to have been my cricket coach. As he was leaving, I decided to say hello, and stood up to shake his hand. "G'day George" I said. "Yeah, g'day mate" he growled in a style unmistakeably meaning "Piss off, you idiot!" and without even looking at me, he brushed past me at a fair clip and disappeared. I can't blame him, it must be annoying having people wanting to accost you because you're famous. I did see (and talk) to him several years after that when he was a guest speaker at a conference organised by my employer, a funds management company. We had a chat about the old school days, but I didn't mention that he gave me the flick at Dods House. (Photo: © 2010 the foto fanatic)

Since the creation of the initial restaurant, Dods House has had a few reincarnations as different bars and restaurants, a couple of them in the "adult" category. It is currently called Pink Piano, and here is its web site.

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Next: Inchcolm

Callender House, Wickham Terrace

(Photo: © 2010 the foto fanatic)

Wealthy land-holder Patrick Mayne was an early owner (1856 - 1864) of this property on Wickham terrace opposite Enoggera Park. He may have even built the original house (really a duplex), but that is uncertain. What is certain is that the building was subsequently renovated and extended by one of Brisbane's most fondly remembered architects, Robin Dods, around the year 1912. Robin Dods' brother Espie was a doctor, and he bought the house in 1910 to use both as a residence and also as his surgery. He engaged brother Robin to adapt the building for this purpose.(Photo: © 2010 the foto fanatic)

Originally known as Callender House, an earlier resident was Rev Joseph Buckle, one of Brisbane's first Methodist ministers, who bought it in 1885 and sold it to Dr Dods in 1910. In 1925, the building was purchased by the Brisbane Theosophical Society, who still own it today. It is heritage listed.

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Next: Another Dods house

Prince Consort Hotel, Fortitude Valley

We have a lot to thank the British for, but naming hotels isn't one of them. The Brits seem to have developed a very obtuse system of selecting names for public houses, and there are elements of it here too. The Queen's Arms (to pick an unusual name) have what to do with me having a quiet ale in a tavern? I'll use my own Warwick Farms thanks Liz! There used to be a King's Head Hotel in Sydney. "Where's the King's Head?" people would ask. The most frequent response to that was "Three feet from his arse!" As well as royal anatomy, animals seemed to be heavily favoured too. The Golden Stag, The Black Swan - you get the drift, I'm sure. At least that wildlife can be found in England, but a recent hotel name here in Brisbane is "The Elephant & Wheelbarrow". Pardon? Where did that come from, I wonder. I suppose if you had an elephant, you'd need a wheelbarrow, wouldn't you? I mean, I've been to Africa, and those elephant pats are enormous. In fact, an ordinary gardener's wheelbarrow wouldn't suffice - you would need a heavy duty one to push along behind your elephant. Here's a recent photograph of The Elephant & Wheelbarrow, which is situated on Wickham St in the Valley.
(Photo: © 2010 the foto fanatic)

As you can see, it is trying to appeal to a very diverse clientele. Posters for both the FIFA World Cup and State of Origin (and there's a rugby Tri-Nations one just out of picture) to appeal to different sporting groups. Flags of various nations including the United Kingdom, Japan and Ireland beckon backpackers; while the advertisements for Budweiser beer from the United States is an indication of the eclectic group of beverages served inside at the 9 metre-long bar, one of the longest around. And then there's the pokies for those who find that buying drinks doesn't get rid of their hard-earned quickly enough. I'd rather rip up $20 notes and flush them down a toilet, myself; but that's just me. If you look more closely at my photograph above, you will see that the name of the hotel appears in the gables at the top of the picture. Note that the name says Prince Consort Hotel, the original name of the establishment which is pictured below around the year 1936.
(Photo: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; #106580)

The original Prince Consort Hotel was built on this site for publican John Daniel Heal around the year 1863. Heal bought up adjoining properties to enable the construction of a larger premises, and he engaged Richard Gailey to design the new hotel in 1887. The pub was built by William Ferguson for £9,400 and completed in the following year. It's a wonder that Fortitude Valley wasn't renamed Gaileyville in the 1880s, as Richard Gailey had also designed the nearby Empire Hotel, the Wickham Hotel, the Hotel Orient and the Jubilee Hotel (don't worry, it's coming!) during this decade. They all are still standing and operating as hotels today. At one time the Prince Consort was owned by the O'Connor family, well-known Brisbane publicans. I wonder what they would make of its new name? Although, when you come to think of it, Prince Consort (the husband of a reigning queen - think Prince Philip) sounds vaguely like something the vice squad would be interested in!

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Next: Callender House

RS Exton building

The expansion of Brisbane from penal outpost to growing colony and finally state did wonders for many of the early tradesmen - the stonemasons, the architects, the builders and painters. Robert Exton was a painter who worked in Brisbane from 1882 through to the 1920s. Originally he was in a partnership with George Gough, and here are their Petrie Bight premises photographed in 1884.
(Photo: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; #16819)

Exton & Gough were involved in some significant projects, such as the Treasury Building, Customs House and the Smellie & Co warehouse. They also provided stained glass windows for both St Stephen's Cathedral in Elizabeth St, and St Patrick's Catholic Church in the Valley. The partnership dissolved in 1907, and Exton struck out on his own as RS Exton & Co. and built this Ann St building, designed by Claude Chambers, in the same year. The building was situated next to the J Simmonds Monumental Works, which was in turn next to St Andrew's Presbyterian Church.
(Photo: © 2010 the foto fanatic)

RS Exton & Co continued as painters and decorators, but it was to be stained glass windows (particularly ecclesiastical) for which they were to become really well-known. The buildings on Ann St began to change too, and Shell House and the Masonic Temple were built between St Andrew's Presbyterian Church and Exton's building. After Robert Exton died in 1921, the business slowly declined through to WWII. The original facade of the building is all that remains (above).

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Next: Consorting in the Valley

Wynnum Ambulance Centre

Did you know that Brisbane was the first place in the world to have an ambulance service manned by paid staff? Quite something to be proud of, I think. Brisbane initially relied upon the police to perform emergency accident first aid, but in 1892 the City Ambulance Transport Brigade was formed to provide transport services to get the ill and injured to hospital. Although ponies and sulkies were purchased in 1897, they were used only to convey the ambulance bearers to the patient, who was then transported to hospital on a litter, as seen in the following photo from 1901. (Photo: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; #185643)

Their initial headquarters were situated in the Courier building on the corner of Queen and Edward Sts. now the site of the Commonwealth Bank. After a restructure in 1902 when the organisation became the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade (QATB) as a result of acquiring funding from the State government, the QATB moved to dedicated premises in Ann St. Regional ambulance stations were also being constructed, and the foundation stone (pictured below - click to see a larger image) for Wynnum Station was laid on Australia Day in 1926. At the time, the State government provided only half the funds needed - the rest came from the Wynnum community, anxious to have their ambulance service.(Photo: © 2010 the foto fanatic)

By the time of the opening of this building in November 1927 (pictured below), ambulance stations were being constructed to a formula: first-aid facilities and garages for the ambulances on the ground floor, and accommodation for the superintendent on the upper floor.
(Photo: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; #76041)

The Wynnum Ambulance Station served its community until 1996, when a newer, more modern facility was opened adjacent to Wynnum Hospital. This older building continues its association with the QATB though - it now houses an ambulance museum on the ground level and an ambulance education unit on the upper level.(Photo: © 2010 the foto fanatic)

The only personal contact I have had with an ambulance was the time I broke my ankle playing football in Mount Isa, and it seems like a Keystone Kops movie in hindsight. I felt and heard the thing snap as I was tackled during a rugby match one Saturday night. Play continued for a while before the ref stopped the game, during which time I almost drowned at the bottom of the ruck that had formed over me. Drowned? In Mount Isa? Yes, the club responsible for watering the oval earlier in the day had adjourned to the pub and left the sprinklers on. It may have been my club :-) Anyway, the ref summoned the Zambuck over to look at me (Note: Zambuck is footie slang for an ambulance officer). This Zambuk was only about 150 cm tall, but weighed about 100 kg, so it took him a while to get to me. "What's wrong?" he asked, somewhat breathlessly. "Broke my ankle" replied I. "Let me be the judge of that" he said - after all, he was wearing a uniform. He grabbed my foot and rotated it left and right to the sounds of loud clicking and crunching noises. Luckily, lying in the water for what seemed an eternity had numbed my leg from the knee down. "You've broken your ankle" says the Zambuck, "I'll have to take you to hospital". With that he waddles all the way back to the ambulance and drives it onto the pitch, backing it up to me, still lying on the ground. The Zambuck gets out of the vehicle and opens the back door to produce a stretcher. Players from both teams manhandle me onto the stretcher and into the ambulance. The ref isn't pleased, because the game can't continue without an ambulance present and the hospital is about 15 minutes away. "Don't worry, I'll radio for a replacement" the Zambuck says. With that he takes off towards the hospital, radioing for another ambulance to attend the football ground. I never understood why, but instead of just changing places, the ambulance officers decided to meet half-way and transfer me out of the first ambulance into the second. Unfortunately, the second Zambuck was a 50 kg asthmatic. Between the two of them, they had no chance of moving 100+ kg of me on the stretcher across the two-metre gap between the two ambulances. I had to get out and hop on my good leg from one vehicle to the other so that I could proceed to the hospital. The Three Stooges routine was completed on my arrival at the hospital. Still wearing wet and dirty football gear, boots and all, I was wheeled into the A&E rooms, to be greeted by the apprentice first-year resident doctor. He asked "What's happened to you?". "Broke my ankle, doc" I replied, now confident of the diagnosis. "How did you do that?" he asked, completely ignoring the tell-tale clues of my football attire. Deciding that fate had dealt me a cruel hand by sending a tribe of idiots to look after me, I said "Slipped down the stairs". Just for that, for a broken ankle (X-Rays had confirmed my and the Zambuck's diagnoses), I was placed in a plaster cast from my toes to my hip.

I'm sure present-day ambulance officers (and doctors) do a much better job.

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Next: RS Exton & Co

Brisbane Grammar School

This is the view available now to motorists as they drive along College Rd towards the Normanby fiveways. It is the Brisbane Grammar School. For decades the school has been hidden behind large trees, so it is good to now be able to see the structure - however, I notice a fair amount of planting in front of the building, so it may be obscured again in time. (Photo: © 2010 the foto fanatic)

In 1860, the Queensland Parliament passed the Grammar Schools Act which allowed for communities to raise money for the building of grammar schools. The government would add double whatever had been raised, subject to the local fund-raising achieving at least £1,000. The first such school to open was the Ipswich Grammar School in 1863, and in 1864 Brisbane Grammar School commenced at its original site in Roma St. That first school building was designed by Benjamin Backhouse with further work done later by RG Suter. Here is a picture of it from around 1875.
(Photo: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; #188167)

The expansion of the railway yards at Roma St led to the school moving to its current location between College Rd and Gregory Terrace with the entrance to the grounds on the Gregory Terrace side. It was designed by James Cowlishaw and built for about £12,000 by contractor W McFarlane, and opened to students in 1881. The new school was enlarged in 1887 with the addition of School House, designed by Richard Gailey, erected to house boarders as well as to provide accommodation for the headmaster. A photo of the school from 1889 is shown below.
(Photo: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; #APO_010_027_0001)

Obviously a school this old has built its own tradition, and "Grammar" (as it is known locally) has had only eleven headmasters in almost 150 years. Several of the headmasters, including the current head, have been Grammar old boys themselves - thus ensuring that the tradition continues. I don't know much about the school, save that it has a fine academic record and that it is now one of the more expensive private schools in the state. I didn't go there, although my father did - way back in the 1930s. The only thing he ever told me was that he liked rugby and cricket. I guess the apple didn't fall far from the tree! I'm not sure of his academic prowess either - I know that he studied French because he could still remember some of it when I was learning French at high school. He also did biology and geology, which he told me were called "guts 'n gibbers" by the boys. Haha.
(Photo: Courtesy Brisbane Grammar School prospectus)

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Next: The Zambucks