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Iconic Hamilton Hotel Changes Hands After Three Decades

One of Hamilton’s landmarks, Hamilton Motor Inn, has been sold for the first time in 30 years, having been bought from its original owners for roughly $6 million.

Read: Plans to Add a New Commercial Office Tower at Hamilton Harbour Development Lodged

JLL Metropolitan Sales & Investments, which handles the sale of the 22-room property, revealed the five-week bidding had been hotly contested.

The listing has received a total of 11 bids, which is a mix of buyer groups that include private investors, accommodation operators, and developers looking to reposition the asset.

hamilton motor inn — Photo credit: Aaron Corrie/Google Maps

However, a business registered to two directors of Eagle Farm-based Epoca Constructions topped all the competitive bidders.

The privately owned company has more than 50 years experience in Civil Engineering construction and has a diversified client base. Some of their projects include the Wakerly District Sports Park, the Moggill District Sports Complex, and Gladstone Dozer Bridge.

The iconic hotel, sold in March 2022, was considered as one of the major players during the early tourism boom in Brisbane. The five-level riverfront property is a long-time flagship of the inner north, as it boasts uninterrupted views of the river and the skyline.

brisbane hotels — Photo credit: Google Street View

It features function space and restaurant, rear courtyard, rooftop terrace, generous on-grade parking, and a caretaker’s unit.

In relation to the sale of Hamilton Motor Inn, Gareth Closter, Senior Vice President at JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group, believes the Queensland accommodation market is coming back.

Many investors these days take part in the emerging trend in real estate, wherein they acquire multiple hotels and motels, and create their own brands rather than putting in hotel management agreements.

JLL believes the location of the property, along with the opportunity to reposition and add value to it were some of the key drivers for enquiry during the Expressions of Interest campaign.

Public Gets First Look At Breakfast Creek Sports Precinct

Check out what the Breakfast Creek Sports Precinct might be like! Here’s a bird’s eye view of Albion’s new multi-sports precinct.

Read: Get to Know Katana, a Hamilton Landmark Since the 19th Century

Brisbane City Council is still exploring and considering concept plans and inclusions for the precinct, but the unveiled images show that it will feature a number of sport and recreation facilities.

The plan is to build the sports precinct at Crosby Park, which will utilise the entirely government-owned land to create “one of the most accessible sporting facilities in the world.”

One of the highlights of the sports precinct is the new five-hectare Brisbane Indoor Sports and Para Sports Centre, which will accommodate basketball, wheelchair basketball, goalball, netball and volleyball courts, badminton facilities and a para-athlete training gym.

Breakfast Creek Sports Precinct — Photo credit: Brisbane City Council

The sports centre will support Brisbane’s sports and para-sports communities through active sport participation and community programs. For the 2032 Games, the centre will play host to Olympic basketball and Paralympic wheelchair basketball events, with a 12,000 person seating capacity.

Brisbane Indoor Sports and Para Sports Centre features include:

12 state-of-the-art indoor court facilities for a range of sporting codes
Para-athlete training gym
Additional four indoor courts dedicated for para-sports activity
Six external 3×3 basketball courts

Brisbane 2032 Olympic Legacy

Announcing the concept for Breakfast Creek Sports Precinct, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the proposal aims to create yet another Brisbane 2032 Olympic legacy, transforming an under-utilised and tired area of our city into a thriving sports precinct that will stage local, national and international sports events all year round.

“The 29-hectare Breakfast Creek Sports Precinct presents the kind of opportunity only the world’s biggest sporting event can attract, and I can’t wait to see it transform into a green sports oasis that will be used by generations of Brisbane residents,” said Cr Schrinner.

As for public transport, Cr Schrinner confirmed that the State Government is currently checking the business case that the Council has submitted for a new gold CityGlider route that would service this area as well as several other Olympic precincts across the city.

Furthermore, it will feature an environmentally sustainable and efficient design including underground water harvesting for sport field irrigation, flood resilient design and planning, and potential energy generation.

Council’s website states that they will keep the community informed as these plans progress.

Nehemiah Bartley: Who was the Man Who Owned ‘Bartley’s Folly’ in Hamilton?

Did you know that an elegant house once stood at the highest point of Bartley’s Hill Reserve? Bartley’s Folly was constructed in 1860 for Nehemiah Bartley, a merchant and author, as a gift to his wife, Sarah Sophia Barton who sadly, refused to live there.

After arriving in Brisbane, Nehemiah Bartley wanted his family to live at the highest point of Hamilton so they could enjoy unrivaled views of the area. He had Bartley’s Hill built. However, his wife Sarah could not love the place as it was isolated from people and surrounded by dense bushland. She feared they would be attacked by Aboriginals so she refused to live in it.

Thus, the home was nicknamed Bartley’s Folly, and the name stuck even after Mr Bartley sold the property. Mr Bartley highly objected to the term “folly” as he felt it stressed his misjudgements. However, as he expressed in a piece of news daily in 1879, he actually made a £400 profit on the sale of the property.

Who was Nehemiah Bartley?

Nehemiah Bartley was born in 1830 in New Cross, London, and was raised by an aunt as he lost both his parents as a young boy. In 1849, he sailed to Tasmania and settled in Hobart, where he became a gold trader.

Mr Bartley then lived in New South Wales from 1851 to 1853, as he wanted to gain experience on a sheep station. He also worked in a bakery, a store, and as a teller in the Bank of New South Wales in Sydney.

He moved to Queensland in 1854 because he loved its outdoor life and called Brisbane the “prettiest country town.” Mr Bartley had a very active life in Queensland and traveled the area extensively.

In 1858, he married Ms Barton, a stockbroker’s daughter and the sister of the first Prime Minister of Australia, Edmund Barton. The couple had two sons and three daughters.

In his travels, Mr Bartley collected enough materials to write a book, “Opals and Agates,” which provided the backgrounds and stories of the people he met and the events he witnessed.

Nehemiah Bartley book — *Photo Credit: University of Queensland Library*

Mr Bartley was preparing another book, “Australian Pioneers and Reminiscences,” when he died so suddenly. He was living in Sydney at that time. According to his obituary, he suffered internal pain in his stomach which he blamed on a scone but the cause of his death was heart failure. He died in his home in Domain, now part of Sydney’s central business district.

Mr Bartley’s other book was published posthumously.

Nehemiah Bartley Obituary — Photo Credit: National Library of Australia

What happened to Bartley’s Folly?

In 1920, Bartley’s Folly was demolished to make way for a water reservoir to improve the water supply in the area as the population of North Brisbane expanded. The Brisbane Board of Waterworks bought the property.

*Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland*

With the formation of the very first Brisbane City Council in 1925, considerations were raised to acquire Bartley’s Hill to maintain its natural beauty.

During World War II, it’s believed that the reservoir was converted into a temporary wartime shelter given its proximity to the encampments at the racecourse.

Today, Bartley’s Hill is a heritage-listed site.

Plans to Add a New Commercial Office Tower at Hamilton Harbour Development Lodged

Photo Credit: Queensland Government / edqdad.dsdip.qld.gov.au

An application for the fifth and final portion of the Hamilton Harbour development that seeks the establishment of a multi-storey commercial office building on the corner of Hercules Street and Northshore Way has been lodged.

“KSD-2.0”, designed by COX Architecture, is a 14-storey and 56m high commercial office tower on a site located at 12 Hercules Street and has a total land area of 2,325sqm. Access to the proposed development is gained over its adjoining land located at 485 Kingsford Smith Drive, thus forming part of the application.

Site location at Hamilton Harbour development — Site location | Photo Credit: Queensland Government / edqdad.dsdip.qld.gov.au

Site plan | Photo Credit: Queensland Government / edqdad.dsdip.qld.gov.au

Proposed by CIMIC, the development will cover a total GFA of 15,178sqm across all levels including the basement, ground floor and the four podium levels. There will be an office lobby as well as three tenancies at the ground level, one (82sqm) at Kingsford Drive end and the other two (82sqm and 123sqm) on the entrance at Hercules Street and the corner of Hercules Street and Northshore Way.

Basement plan of proposed development at Hamilton Harbour — Basement plan | Photo Credit: Queensland Government / edqdad.dsdip.qld.gov.au

Ground floor plan | Photo Credit: Queensland Government / edqdad.dsdip.qld.gov.au

A total of 170 car parking spaces is proposed across the basement level (42 car parking spaces) and four podium levels (32 car parking spaces for each level). Level 1 will have a total office space GFA of 1,269sqm whilst Levels 2 to 8 will cover a total of 1,462sqm GFA.

Levels 5 to 12 | Photo Credit: Queensland Government / edqdad.dsdip.qld.gov.au

Roof Terrace / Plant | Photo Credit: Queensland Government / edqdad.dsdip.qld.gov.au

“The design of the building is contemporary including a number of modern elements to visually enhance the space and orientation of the building being located on a corner,” planners at RPS noted about the proposal’s architectural treatment.

“Specifically, the building has been oriented to ensure the podium car parking is located on the less prominent corner. In addition, the building incorporates greenery on the façade of the building through well designed landscaping elements on the sleeve of the Podium.”

Currently located at the Hamilton Harbour precinct are more than 600 residential apartment units and a 5-level commercial building plus several retail spaces and a Woolworths Metro.

Being situated within the Northshore Hamilton Priority Development, the proposal is currently being assessed by Economic Development Queensland.

The Story Behind Hamilton’s Distinguished Toorak Residence

Toorak House, a Gothic-influenced mansion along Annie St in Hamilton, has been a prominent stone residence in the Breakfast Creek area since the 1860s. Standing on a hilltop overlooking the Brisbane River, it used to be the house of the 13th Premier of Queensland, Sir James Robert Dickson.

The house was originally part of the 32-acre land of William Robert Howe Weekes. Mr Dickson then a businessman from Devon, England, bought the property around the 1860s for his wife, Annie Dickinson, when they moved from Victoria to Queensland.

The completion of Toorak took years to take shape. It was initially designed as a single storey home with a two-level entry hall and a distinct verandah roof. By the 1890s, a second storey was added to the house as Mr Dickson returned to Brisbane with his children.

Sir James Robert Dickson and his family, circa 1870s
Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland

It is believed that Mr Dickson chose the name “Toorak” based on the Melbourne landmark of the same name, which his cousin designed. Per the heritage listing, Toorak’s house and garden were substantially influenced by the English Picturesque movement.

Toorak bedroom — Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland

Toorak living room — *Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland*

Toorak’s Subdivision and the Other Owners

The subdivision of Toorak’s land started as soon as Mr Dickson acquired the property. When Mr Dickson died in 1901, Toorak was standing on a four-acre land, down from 32 acres.

Toorak 1890 — *Toorak in 1890*
*Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland*

A few years after Mr Dickson’s death, Toorak was leased to Eton High School, which was later known as St. Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School of the Sisters of Sacred Advent. However, the steep hill made it quite a challenge for the students to walk and climb daily so the sisters moved the school to Donatello.

By 1916, Toorak was acquired by George Moffatt, a grazier. Over 10 years later, the house would go to John Gibson, one of Brisbane’s prominent sugar families. Over the decades, Toorak would be home to the families of Patrick Woulfe (grazier), Harold de Valh Rubin (art collector), and Sir William Allen (pastoralist).

Toorak’s Record-Breaking Sale

Toorak had remained in the Allen family from 1976 to 1995 when it was purchased for $2,850,000 by a private resident who currently owns many businesses in Brisbane.

The family of Mr Allen put up the historic Brisbane home on the market in 1991. It was expected to be the highest price paid for a Brisbane property at that time. However, it took years for the house to close.

Modern-day Toorak — Toorak in 2009
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Who was Sir James Robert Dickson?

Mr Dickson became a member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland for Enoggera in 1873. He was good friends with the inaugural Chief Justice of Australia, Sir Samuel Walker Griffith, who made Mr Dickson the Treasurer when the former became the premier in the 1880s.

Mr Dickson then became the premier following the death of Thomas Byrnes. He was in office for a brief period until Anderson Dawson took office to become the first leader of the very first Labour Party. Mr Dickson, on the other hand, became a Federal Minister.

Sir James Robert Dickson — Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Anderson Dawson, 1899
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Whilst preparing to stand for election to the first Federal Parliament, Mr Dickson died in office. He was accorded a state funeral and then a private funeral at his Toorak home.

Sir James Robert Dickson obit — Photo Credit: National Library of Australia

Looking for a Perfect Wedding Venue? Check Out Waters Edge Weddings & Events at Portside Wharf

Photo Credit: Waters Edge Weddings & Events / watersedgeweddingsandevents.com.au

From The Fresh Collective, one of Australia’s top caterers, comes ‘Waters Edge Weddings & Events,’ a modern function space at Portside Wharf with a private balcony overlooking the Brisbane River.

With more than two decades of experience, The Fresh Collective has earned a reputation for being one of Australia’s top event caterers with New South Wales’ The Art Gallery, Queensland Museum, and Coco Republic Brisbane among its impressive list of clients.

With such impressive credentials, opening a dedicated space to showcase their expertise does make sense. The group picked a perfect spot at Portside Wharf in Hamilton for this new venture, a 734-sqm space situated on Level Two.

The new venue features a 150-sqm private balcony that offers stunning river views and a city skyline.

Waters Edge Weddings & Events at Portside Wharf — Photo Credit: Waters Edge Weddings & Events / watersedgeweddingsandevents.com.au

The new Waters Edge Weddings & Events features a 150sqm private balcony — The new venue features a 150sqm private balcony | Photo Credit: Waters Edge Weddings & Events / watersedgeweddingsandevents.com.au

The well-lit venue boasts modern interiors with floor-to-ceiling windows | Photo Credit: Waters Edge Weddings & Events / watersedgeweddingsandevents.com.au

Whether it’s an intimate or a grand-scale event, the venue is the perfect place to hire with its 300 seated and 750 standing guests capacity. The well-lit venue boasts modern interiors with floor-to-ceiling windows and elegant decor to provide the perfect backdrop for weddings.

The Fresh Collective is in charge of crafting top-notch menu | Photo Credit: Waters Edge Weddings & Events / watersedgeweddingsandevents.com.au

Clients can count on The Fresh Collective to craft top-notch catering options whether for a cocktail soiree or an elaborate banquet.

Need some more convincing? Here’s a sample menu.

Entree: Select two dishes

Cured salmon, celeriac remoulade, shaved fennel and orange salad (GF)
Ploughman’s platter: smoked ham, farmer’s pâté, aged cheddar, chutney Clay baked beetroot, goats curd, toasted almond dukkah
Clay baked beetroot, goats curd, toasted almond dukkah (GF, V)
Stuffed zucchini flowers, bacalao, vegetable escabeche (GF, V)
Prosciutto di Parma, compressed melon, buffalo mozzarella, aged balsamic
Burrata, broad bean and mint panzanella, ciabatta crisps (V)
Rare roasted beef tagliata, tuna mayonnaise, capers, onion (GF)
Chargrilled asparagus, halloumi, marjoram, honey and lemon oil (V)

Main: Select two dishes

Roast organic chicken, confit garlic and lemon (GF)
Greek style lamb shoulder, tzatziki, lemon and oregano (GF)
Baked barramundi, Romesco sauce, olive and almond dressing (GF)
Stuffed porchetta, apple chutney, roasting juices (GF)
Orecchiette pasta, confit cherry tomato, olives, wild thyme (V)
Whole roasted Portobello mushrooms, caponata vegetables, garlic herb crust (V)

Dessert: Select two dishes

White chocolate pavlova, ginger roasted apples, lemon curd (GF)
Artisan cheese board, fruits, nuts, lavash, crackers, quince paste
Classic tiramisu
Peach and Valencia orange frangipane flan
Crème brûlée tart with Madagascan vanilla
Baked lemon cheesecake with soaked raisins
Coffee and selection of teas

Waters Edge Weddings & Events is located at Level 2 (Above Dendy Cinema), Portside Wharf, 39 Hercules Street, Hamilton. The venue is open seven days a week with inspections by appointment only.

Eldernell Hill: From 19th Century Aboriginal Camp to Blue-Chip Hamilton Location

Residents of the Eldernell Hill estate in Hamilton enjoy a great location with an enviable view of Moreton Bay. Established in 1890, this subdivision consists of Grays Road, Mullens Street, Prospect Terrace, Hanlon Terrace (now Eldernell Terrace), Markwell Street, Perry Street, and Windermere Road.

There were two aboriginal camps in this Hamilton location. One was found on the hilltop whilst the other was situated on the northern side of the estate. The camps, however, were repeatedly destroyed by the police who conducted raids when the Aborigines attacked the settlers.

William Hemmant, a British-Australian politician who served the Legislative Assembly and was also assigned as Queensland Treasurer, owned the estate that became Eldernell Hill. The land comprised more than four acres, stretching over to what is now known as Kingsford Smith Drive.

During this time, there were only a few residents in Hamilton, which was still considered semi-rural. However, the location already had some of the finest homes in Queensland.

Eldernell, the Mansion

In 1869, Mr Hemmant had the heritage-listed Eldernell mansion constructed on the crest of the hill that overlooks the rest of Hamilton. It was designed by Brisbane architect James Cowlishaw for when Mr Hemmant’s family from Cambridgeshire, England moved to Brisbane. He named the home Eldernell for his wife Lucy’s hometown in England.

By 1890, Hemmant decided to subdivide his estate thus reducing the size of Eldernell’s land. However, it still has one of the most sizeable lots in Hamilton even today. It is a constant reminder of the status of Hamilton as an elite suburb.

Eldernell, the mansion, was renamed Bishopbourne in 1964 when it became the residence of Anglican Archbishop Philip Strong, who built the Chapel of the Good Shepherd on the grounds.

Public Auction of Eldernell Hill

Some 61 allotments were publicly auctioned for Eldernell Hill and most of the lots sold for an average of £175.

The advertisement for the public auction positioned Eldernell Hill as the “centre of the most fashionable and attractive suburb of Brisbane.” Even then, Hamilton was already a highly regarded place to live, with allotments costing two or three times more than the blocks of other suburbs nearby.

Eldernell Hill Hamilton — Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland

Today, more than 95 per cent of residents in the Eldernell Hill section are owner-occupiers with half of the residents living in the area for over 10 years.

Superordinary Northshore Hosts New, Giant Murals for the Brisbane Street Art Festival 2022

Photo Credit: Brisbane Street Art / Facebook

Brisbane Street Art Festival returns this month with its largest program yet, with Superordinary Northshore as its central hub, hosting 12 mural activations and other art events throughout the festival’s 16-day run.

From 7 to 22 May 2022, the city will burst with 50 live eye-catching public murals and installations along with art events and workshops as part of Brisbane Street Art Festival 2022. BSAF will introduce Superordinary Northshore, a repurposed industrial space that will host a slew of art events, side by side with the mural activations. Some of Brisbane’s iconic spots including Howard Smith Wharves, Queen St Mall, RNA Showgrounds, The Valley Mall, and South Bank are also listed as festival locations.

This year’s festival marks the first time that international artists from the USA, Spain, Russia, Thailand, Indonesia and New Zealand are participating since 2019. Visiting artists will include Miss Birdy, Iñigo Sesma and Fivust who will be joined by Australia’s Sofles, Lisa King and Rachael Sarra.

Brisbane Street Art Festival will also bring the “Tools of the Trade” exhibition to the city. The Hong Kong exhibition will highlight the history of street art and graffiti as seen through the artist’s tools and techniques.

Other featured events include a 90-minute Scribble Slam in collaboration with Brisbane’s Botanica- Contemporary Art Outside; House of Iris, a photography exhibit curated by Brisbane-based photographers Macami and Luis Campbell; and BSAF x Felon’s Party where event-goers will have a chance to sample the official BSAF 2022 beer with artwork designed by Sofles.

BSAF has also doubled its lineup of workshops this year including calligraphy, typography, yarn bombing, digital illustration, tufting and much more.
Click here for more details about the Brisbane Street Art Festival 2022.

Superordinary CBD | 62 Mary Street, Brisbane City

For a Limited Time: Cheaper Dendy Cinemas – Portside Budget Tuesdays

Photo Credit: Dendy Cinemas / dendy.com.au

In case you haven’t heard, Dendy Cinemas Portside and Coorparoo have made Budget Tuesdays even more affordable.

Every Tuesday until 31 May 2022, movie goers get treated to a specially reduced ticket price, regardless of their choice of movie to watch.

Portside Cinema’s regular ticket price costs just $8 while those at Coorparoo cost just $10. Premium Lounge sessions in Coorparoo cost $20. Tickets can be purchased online (plus booking fee) or in person.

Here’s what’s on at Dendy Cinemas – Portside on 26th April 2022 (Tuesday).

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Sharon Horgan, Tiffany Haddish, Ike Barinholtz, Alessandra Mastronardi, Jacob Scipio, Neil Patrick Harris

Director: Tom Gormican

Session Times: 2pm, 4.40 PM, 7 PM

The Northman

Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Anya Taylor, Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe

Director: Robert Eggers

Session Times: 10.30 am, 4.00 pm, 6.45 pm

The Duke

Cast: Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren, Fionn Whitehead, Matthew Goode, Anna Maxwell Martin, Jack Bandeira, Aimée Kelly

Director: Roger Michell

Session Times: 10.30 am, 4.50 pm, 7 pm

The Lost City

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Patti Harrison, Oscar Nunez, Brad Pitt

Directors: Adam Nee, Aaron Nee

Session Times: 10.40 am, 2.30 pm, 7 pm

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Callum Turner, Jessica Williams, Katherine Waterston, Mads Mikkelsen

Director: David Yates

Session Times: 10.30 am, 1.10 pm, 6.30 pm

Elizabeth: A Portrait in Parts

Cast: Queen Elizabeth II as Self, Roger Michell, Kevin Loader, Kevin Loader, Roger Michell, Peter Touche, Samantha Allwinton, Hugo Grumbar

Director: Roger Michell

Session Times: 10.30 am, 12.30 pm

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Cast: James Marsden, Ben Schwartz (Sonic’s voice), Jim Carrey, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, Shemar Moore, Colleen O’Shaughnessey (Tails’ voice), Lee Majdoub, Idris Elba (Knuckle’s voice)

Director: Jeff Fowler

Session Time: 4.10 pm

The Batman

Cast: Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, Andy Serkis, Colin Farrell

Director: Matt Reeves

Session Time: 1.15 pm

Rabbit Academy

Cast: Senta Berger (Madama Hermine’s voice), Friedrich von Thun (Eitelfritz’s voice), Katharina Straßer (Gudrum’s voice)

Director: Ute von Münchow-Pohl

Session Time: 4.45 pm

Ambulance

Cast: Michael Bay

Director: Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eiza González

Session Time: 1.40 pm

Tickets can be purchased online (plus booking fee) or in person.

Book Tickets

Get to Know Katana, a Hamilton Landmark Since the 19th Century

Katana, a Colonial-style timber and tin house on Langside Road in Hamilton, was constructed in 1884 for James Robert Dickson Jr and his wife, Cordelia. It is one of the most historically significant properties on a street that exhibits the residential development of the suburb in the late 19th century.

Oliver Jonker Recently in History Katana

William Weekes and John Cooksley, both land speculators, used to own the land where Katana stood, until Mr Dickson Jr bought a parcel of the allotments when it was offered for development.

During this time, Hamilton was already characterised by large estates and beautiful homes but there were still plenty of lands that were still underdeveloped.

The vacant lands slowly turned into a precinct with some of the finest estates in Brisbane. Hamilton and its neighbouring suburb, Ascot, were slowly emerging as elite residential sites populated by the city’s prominent, moneyed families.

Who was James Dickson Jr?

The original owner of Katana, Mr James Dickson Jr, was one of six sons of the Honourable James Robert Dickson, a prominent businessman and politician.

The older Dickson, who originally hailed from Glasgow before moving to Queensland in 1862, briefly served as the 13th Queensland Premier. He also had the Toorak House built along Annie Street in Hamilton.

The younger Dickson worked in his father’s auction house on Queens Street and eventually took over the business when his father retired and travelled around Europe from 1888 to 1892.

It was believed that the Dicksons moved out of Katana around 1905 and sold the property to the next private owners. By the 1920s, the land was further subdivided and reduced but the house has remained intact all these years.

Photo Credit: Trove/National Library of Australia

Katana: Truly Special

Aside from being the home of a prominent Queensland family, Katana’s location offers many advantages that last up to today. It has a lovely view of the city and aside from the panoramic view, the home enjoys cooling breezes from the river. The house is also close to the city and its amenities.

Katana views — Photo Credit: Ray White Listing

The architecture of Katana is historically significant because it is a fine example of the type of construction of homes belonging to the upper-class and moneyed middle class in the Hamilton and Ascot area during the late 19th century, a time when both suburbs started to acquire their elite status.

The tin and timber residence was constructed in the Colonial style. The central feature of the house frontage is the front door and there is an arched frontispiece in the verandah roof right above the main entry.

The house has a symmetrical frontage and a separately roofed verandah encircling the structure.

Corrugated iron makes up both roofs, whilst the exterior walls are timber .

The main roof has a steep pitch and a short ridge. There is a brick chimney in the back. The underside of the gutter of the main roof has a decorative apron and the concave verandah roof is enclosed with a row of casement windows.

Katana indoors — *Photo Credit: Ray White Listing*

Katana currently has four bedrooms and two bathrooms. It was sold for $2.2 million in 2008 and then sold again for $2.52 million in 2020, after only 22 days on market.