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Did you know...
That Newstead House has the only known firemark still affixed to a building on the City of Brisbane? In the days before the establishment of municipal fire services some insurance companies operated their own fire brigade to keep loss to a minimum. Firemarks were a way of identifying which building was insured by which company.
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Newstead House is acknowledged as Brisbane's oldest surviving residence dating from 1846 when it was constructed for Scot Patrick Leslie who had first settled on the Darling Downs in 1840. Over the years, Newstead has evolved from a cottage reflective of the Colonial Georgian style of architecture into a residence not unlike the classic “homestead” found west of the Great Dividing Range. What is now Newstead Park was part of a parcel of land purchased by Leslie in 1845.
Above: Newstead House, Brisbane's oldest surviving domestic dwelling.
From the Collection of Newstead House Trust.
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The City of Brisbane is named after the sixth Governor of New South Wales. The pipe in the collection of Newstead House is a rare silver-gilt-mounted Meerschaum pipe made by Joseph Ash of London in 1811. It was awarded to Colonel Brisbane at the end of his term in the Caribbean.
Left: Brisbane Pipe awarded to the sixth Governor of New South Wales, Sir Thomas Brisbane at the end of his term in the Caribbean. From the Collection of Newstead House Trust.
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In 1885 the Colonial Government of Queensland purchased an official yacht called the Lucinda, the Lucinda was best known for a time during Easter 1891 when the vessel played host to an eminent gathering of men considering the draft Constitution for the new Commonwealth of Australia.
The chair from the Lucinda is one of many scattered throughout Australia, however what makes this chair unique is the signature that can be found on the underside of the seat. “Hopetoun”. In 1902 Australia's first Governor-General, the Earl of Hopetoun sought to be released from his Vice Regal duties. Hopetoun's term as Governor-General was short and problematic, he resigned from the role in the May of 1902 and was in Brisbane enroute to England where he was farewelled at a reception aboard the Queensland Government yacht, the Lucinda. All the guests at the reception signed the bottom of their chairs.
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Left: View from the Drawing Room through to the Living room at Newstead House. These rooms include storm lamps that were once the property of Queensland colonial Premier and first Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, Sir Samuel Griffith and a piano stool once belonging to Lady Macquarie.
From the Collection of Newstead House Trust.
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* The wallpaper in the newly-refurbished Master Bedroom at Newstead House is an exact replica of wallpaper designed by William Morris in 1872 and used in Morris' own study in Kelmscott House in Hammersmith, London.
* In the Victorian era, middle-class Victorians always kept their teapoy locked. Can you guess what a teapoy is and why it was kept locked?
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