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| brisbane_properties_and_other_land_dealings [2024/01/18 16:57] – judith | brisbane_properties_and_other_land_dealings [2025/05/09 21:45] (current) – judith |
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| By January 1862, the family lived at //Shafston//((Andrew Darbyshire, A Fair Slice of St Lucia. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, St Lucia History Group research paper no. 8, p42; TLM-P diary entry January 1862; Kerry Heckenberg,'A taste for art in colonial Queensland: The Queensland Art Gallery Foundational Bequest of Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior', //Queensland Review//, 25:1, June 2018, pp.119-136 states it was on in George Street)) in the highly desirable downtown Brisbane suburb of [[wp>Kangaroo_Point,_Queensland|Kangaroo Point]].((For photos of //Shafston//, see //The Queenslander//, 25 September 1930, p.41.)) The house was previously called //Ravenscot// but renamed by its then owner Henry Russell in 1852. The house was later re-built so little or nothing of the original remains.((Andrew Darbyshire, A Fair Slice of St Lucia. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, St Lucia History Group research paper no. 8, p.108.)) \\ | By January 1862, the family lived at //Shafston//((Andrew Darbyshire, A Fair Slice of St Lucia. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, St Lucia History Group research paper no. 8, p42; TLM-P diary entry January 1862; Kerry Heckenberg,'A taste for art in colonial Queensland: The Queensland Art Gallery Foundational Bequest of Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior', //Queensland Review//, 25:1, June 2018, pp.119-136 states it was on in George Street)) in the highly desirable downtown Brisbane suburb of [[wp>Kangaroo_Point,_Queensland|Kangaroo Point]].((For photos of //Shafston//, see //The Queenslander//, 25 September 1930, p.41.)) The house was previously called //Ravenscot// but renamed by its then owner Henry Russell in 1852. The house was later re-built so little or nothing of the original remains.((Andrew Darbyshire, A Fair Slice of St Lucia. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, St Lucia History Group research paper no. 8, p.108.)) \\ |
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| It was understood that TLM-P lived in //Shafston// after he was appointed Postmaster-General in 1862, until the end of his first period in that office in 1866.((Allan Morrison, 'Some Queensland Postmasters-General", Brisbane, Post Office Historical Society, 1953, p.5, copy J. Godden)) In contrast, the heritage listing for the property states it was owned by grazier and sugar-grower Louis Hope from October 1859, and then rented out to Gilbert Eliot, Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and, from 1874-78, Matilda's brother-in-law William Barker of Telemon Station. There is no mention of a period of tenancy by TLM-P.(([[https://environment.ehp.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/detail/?id=600241|Shafston House]])) Two advertisements for September 1861 suggest that Matilda was staying there with her sister. 'Mrs Barker' advertised for two servants, requesting they apply to her at //Shafston//, Kangaroo Point. The very next ad was for an experienced nurse, presumably to look after baby Hugh. Applicants were also asked to apply to //Shafston//, but to Mrs Murray Prior.((//The Courier//, 11 September 1861, p.3.)) F. Lord in his series on Brisbane's historic houses, notes that in around the early 1900s, //Shafston// became the property of J McConnell of //Cessbrook//.((//The Queenslander//, 25 September 1930, p.7, the same family that Thomas de M M-P's daughter Phyllis M-P married into, and the property where she lived; RLM-P also had business dealings with //Cessbrook//.))\\ | TLM-P lived in //Shafston// after he was appointed Postmaster-General in 1862, until the end of his first period in that office in 1866.((Allan Morrison, 'Some Queensland Postmasters-General", Brisbane, Post Office Historical Society, 1953, p.5, copy J. Godden)) The heritage listing for the property states it was owned by grazier and sugar-grower Louis Hope from October 1859, and then rented to Gilbert Eliot, Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and, from 1874-78, Matilda's brother-in-law William Barker of Telemon Station. There is no mention of a period of tenancy by TLM-P.(([[https://environment.ehp.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/detail/?id=600241|Shafston House]])) Two advertisements for September 1861 suggest that Matilda was staying there with her sister. 'Mrs Barker' advertised for two servants, requesting they apply to her at //Shafston//, Kangaroo Point. The very next ad was for an experienced nurse, presumably to look after baby Hugh. Applicants were asked to apply to Mrs Murray Prior at //Shafston//.((//The Courier//, 11 September 1861, p.3.)) Around the early 1900s, //Shafston// was owned by Mary (Madge) McConnel, the wife of J.H. McConnel, the family that Thomas de M M-P's daughter Phyllis married into.((F. Lord,//The Queenslander//, 25 September 1930, p.7; [[https://cressbrookstation.com.au/the-mcconnel-family-cressbrook-today]]/))\\ |
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| === 1 Hodgson's Terrace === | === 1 Hodgson's Terrace === |
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| === Montpelier === | === Montpelier === |
| By August 1867 until 1880, the family's Brisbane residence was //Montpelier// on corner of Main and Ferry Street, Kangaroo Point.((//The Brisbane Courier//, 8 August 1867, p.1 Matilda advertised for a house and parlour maid for //Maroon//; Allan Morrison, 'Some Queensland Postmasters-General", Brisbane, Post Office Historical Society, 1953, p.5, copy J. Godden)). | By August 1867 until 1880, the family's Brisbane residence was //Montpelier// on corner of Main and Ferry Street, Kangaroo Point.((//The Brisbane Courier//, 8 August 1867, p.1 Matilda advertised for a house and parlour maid for //Maroon//; Allan Morrison, 'Some Queensland Postmasters-General", Brisbane, Post Office Historical Society, 1953, p.5, copy J. Godden)) Possibly it needed repairs before the family moved in as TLM-P paid £6.8.6 in April 1866 for 'Carpenters repairs Kangaroo Point' and also Mr James Lang for '40 pieces papering', presumably putting up wallpaper. In November 1867, TLM-P insured the house for £700 and the kitchen for £100.((MLMSS31217/Box 9))\\ |
| Possibly it needed repairs before the family moved in as TLM-P paid £6.8.6 in April 1866 for 'Carpenters repairs Kangaroo Point' and also Mr James Lang for '40 pieces papering', presumably putting up wall paper. In November 1867, TLM-P insured the house for £700 and the kitchen (normally separate due to the fire risk) for £100.((MLMSS31217/Box 9))\\ | |
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| //Montpelier// was a stone house with its main rooms fronting directly on a wide verandah. It saw significant family events: Matilda died there in 1868; Rosa married there in 1872; and Nora's first child Meta was born there.((Andrew Darbyshire, A Fair Slice of St Lucia. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, St Lucia History Group research paper no. 8, pp.111-13.)) The house was convenient as it was closer to the ferry; as there was no bridge at the time, TLM-P used the ferry to get to work in Brisbane. The family lived there when parliament was sitting;((Patricia Clarke, //Rosa! Rosa!// p.23.)) at [[Maroon and Rathdowney|Maroon]] at other times. In October 1867 one of the cheques was for Henry Mohr 'wages. Montpelier' £1.14.0. From the cheques involving Miss Arabin in February 1868, she appears to be the housekeeper at Montpelier. Catherine Hunt was employed as a cook then too, probably also at Monteplier.((MLMSS31217/Box 9))\\ | //Montpelier// was a stone house with cedar fittings with its main rooms fronting directly on a wide verandah. The kitchen, due to the risk of fire, was in a separate wing. It saw significant family events: Matilda died there in 1868; Rosa married there in 1872; and Nora's first child Meta was born there.((Clipping from //The Queenslander//, 18 September 1930 in Rosa Praed Papers, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, MSOM64-01, Box 23/5/1)) The house was convenient as it was closer to the ferry; as there was no bridge at the time, TLM-P used the ferry to get to work in central Brisbane. The family lived there when parliament was sitting;((Patricia Clarke, //Rosa! Rosa!// p.23.)) at [[Maroon and Rathdowney|Maroon]] at other times. In October 1867 one of the cheques was for Henry Mohr 'wages. Montpelier' £1.14.0. From the cheques involving Miss Arabin in February 1868, she appears to be the housekeeper at Montpelier. Catherine Hunt was employed as a cook then too, probably also at Montpelier.((MLMSS31217/Box 9))\\ |
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| {{:montpelier_ferry_st.jpeg?300|}} An undated photo of //Montpelier//.((Photo provenance Tom A. & M. Therese M-P. For more photos of //Montpelier//, see //The Queenslander//, 18 September 1930, p.41.))\\ | {{:montpelier_ferry_st.jpeg?300|}} An undated photo of //Montpelier//.((Photo provenance Tom A. & M. Therese M-P. For more photos of //Montpelier//, see //The Queenslander//, 18 September 1930, p.41.))\\ |
| \\ The next photo is of //Montpelier//'s parlour c.1875, lavishly furnished in the mid-Victorian style (which assumed housemaids to do the constant dusting of so many objects): {{:montpelier.jpg?400|}}((Photo: JOQ))\\ | \\ The next photo is of //Montpelier//'s parlour c.1875, lavishly furnished in the mid-Victorian style (which assumed housemaids to do the constant dusting of so many objects) ((Photo: JOQ)): {{:montpelier.jpg?400|}}\\ |
| //Montpelier// was demolished in 1938.\\ | //Montpelier// was demolished in 1938.\\ |
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| === Whytecliffe === | === Whytecliffe === |
| TLM-P died on New Year's Eve in 1892 at //Whytecliffe// (note that later sources spell it Whitecliffe), his home in [[wiki>Albion,_Queensland|Albion]], a suburb of Brisbane. It was an imposing house with 22 rooms including a kitchen wing, marble fireplaces, a cedar staircase and skylight illuminating the entrance hall.((Andrew Darbyshire, A Fair Slice of St Lucia. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, St Lucia History Group research paper no. 8, p.116.)) TLM-P's will stipulated that his wife had the right to remain there if she wished - presumably taking over the lease as it appears to have been rented by them. Given its size and that, as a new widow she was hardly likely to do large-scale entertaining, it is not surprising that she choose not to remain there. //Whytecliffe// was built c.1875 and is now a retirement village on Sandgate Road.((Whytecliffe House brochure, courtesy T.A. & M.T. M-P. Note that //Highlands//, the home of the Lightollers (Thomas B. M-P's parents-in-law), also became part of the retirement village, pers. comm. M.T. M-P.))\\ | TLM-P died on New Year's Eve in 1892 at //Whytecliffe// (note that later sources spell it Whitecliffe), his home in [[wiki>Albion,_Queensland|Albion]], a suburb of Brisbane. The nearby Whitecliffe Street is believed to be named after the home. It had been built in c.1875 by John Petrie for Robert Little, Queensland first Crown Solicitor. It was an imposing 2-storey house with 22 rooms when first built, a kitchen wing with cellars, marble fireplaces, high plaster ceilings, a cedar staircase and skylight illuminating the entrance hall.(('Brisbane's Historic Homes. Whytecliffe, p.2 in Murray-Prior file, Rathdowney Visitor Information Centre and Historical Museum; Andrew Darbyshire, A Fair Slice of St Lucia. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, St Lucia History Group research paper no. 8, p.116.)) An inventory made just after TLM-P's death listed the contents of 7 family bedrooms and 3 servant bedrooms as well as a coachhouse.((TLM-P papers, MLMSSS 3117, box 10)) TLM-P's will stipulated that his wife had the right to remain there if she wished - presumably taking over the lease as it appears to have been rented by them. Given its size and that, as a new widow she was hardly likely to do large-scale entertaining, it is not surprising that she choose not to remain there.\\ |
| {{:marsh_p3_whitecliffe.jpeg?300|}} //Whytecliffe// in 1930, from QJO.((For more photos of //Whytecliffe// in 1930, see //The Queenslander// 11 September 1930, p.41.)) | \\ |
| | A map of the Whytecliffe estate around the time Nora moved to Sydney.{{:20250422_114654.jpg?250|}}((in Murray-Prior file, Rathdowney Visitor Information Centre and Historical Museum)). |
| | {{:marsh_p3_whitecliffe.jpeg?300|}} //Whytecliffe// in 1930, from QJO.((For more photos of //Whytecliffe// in 1930, see //The Queenslander// 11 September 1930, p.41.))\\ |
| | An undated, more recent photo of Whytecliffe((in Murray-Prior file, Rathdowney Visitor Information Centre and Historical Museum)) {{:20250422_114451.jpg?300|}}. //Whytecliffe// is now part of a retirement village on Sandgate Road.((Whytecliffe House brochure, courtesy T.A. & M.T. M-P)). //Highlands//, the home of the Lightollers (Thomas B. M-P's parents-in-law), also became part of the retirement village. It was built in 1860 by Benjamin Brooks. {{:retirement_village_20250422_114407.jpg?200|}}((in Murray-Prior file, Rathdowney Visitor Information Centre and Historical Museum))\\ |
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| For a map of the locality, see Andrew Darbyshire, A Fair Slice of St Lucia. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, St Lucia History Group research paper no. 8, p.17.\\ | For a map of the locality, see Andrew Darbyshire, A Fair Slice of St Lucia. Thomas Lodge Murray-Prior, St Lucia History Group research paper no. 8, p.17.\\ |
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