28 Moreton St, New Farm

I was intrigued when I first came upon this old photo of a New Farm house in the John Oxley Library, mainly because it is only about a kilometre from where I live. There is no special historical significance to the house or its inhabitants that I am aware of, save that it demonstrates how one family lived in Brisbane around the year 1904, when the image was made. Here is the excerpt from the records at the library:
"Brick residence, 'Cohoes' at 28 Moreton Street in New Farm. The home had elaborate fretwork on the end gable and there are acroteria on the ends of the guttering. Mr Arthur Moore was the resident of this home in 1906. (Information taken from Queensland Post Office and Official Directory, 1902,1906, p.83)"

(Photo: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; #141855)

I assume that it is the resident of the house, Mr Arthur Moore, and his family pictured on the verandah of the attractive dwelling. He is not described as the owner - perhaps he rented the house, or maybe his employer provided it for him. New Farm is quite close to the centre of the city, and was served by the electric tram at that time. It would have passed by on Brunswick St, just a block away from his house, so Mr Moore could well have worked in town. Or, perhaps he was indeed the owner, and may have been a gentleman who had no need to work. It is interesting to speculate, isn't it?
(Photo: © 2009 the foto fanatic)

The house is still there on the corner of Moreton St and Hazel St, and it is still a very attractive residence too, although difficult to photograph in precisely the same way. There is a large tree on the footpath that shields the house from view, and the gardens of the house also contain quite large trees. The lovely roofline and detailed fretwork are still very evident, as well as the chimneys and the wrought-iron roof feature. Although the front fence has been changed, the side fence appears to retain properties of the original paling fence. The house is deceptively large, as it extends quite a way into the property. I don't know who lives there now - wouldn't it be interesting to find out?

(Photo: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; #86414)

PS - After I wrote this, but before it was finally published as a post, I received some further information on this property. Friends were actual owners of this house at one time, and I have in fact been there, albeit some years ago! When I took my photo for this post, I was conscious of the fact that our friends had lived in this street, but I had no clue as to which house it was. I was discussing the blog with them when it became apparent that the house I was working on was the very house they had lived in. Not only that, but they had some further information on the construction of that house and others near it. Let me continue.

Above is the photo of the house next door, "Devon" (the name is on the front gate) at 32 Moreton St. In fact, four detached but identical houses were built side by side in Moreton St, extending from the Hazel St corner to the Bowen Terrace corner.
(Photo: State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library; #141763)
(Photo: © 2009 the foto fanatic)

The book "More Historical Homes of Brisbane", issued by the National Trust of Queensland, indicates that the houses were built in 1897 as a rental investment for a Mr George Willcocks. The house at No 28 was originally named "Kent", but was renamed "Cohoes" by Arthur Moore, the inhabitant at the time the first image in this post was taken. The book indicates that the architect was possibly Giovanni Stombuco. His father, Andrea Stombuco designed Palma Rosa at Hamilton and also St Patrick's Catholic Church in Fortitude Valley.

But I still don't know who lives there now! :-)

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tff

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