Allawah A Grand Mansion for the 19th Century

The following information is taken from the Brisbane City Council Heritage Register.

‘Allawah’ was built in 1888 for wealthy Jewish merchant, Leopold Solomon Benjamin on land which was formally part of the Kinellan Estate. This palatial, double-storey masonry dwelling was designed by architect John J. Cohen, a prominent Brisbane architect. It was built in the Victorian Filigree style and reflects the flamboyance of the era. Cohen was credited with designing the former Bellevue Hotel when in partnership with F.F. Holmes. ‘Inglenook’, originally comprising a drawing room, dining room, library, billiard room, six bedrooms, day and night nurseries, kitchen, laundry, stables, included a lawn tennis court and bush-house in the spacious garden. Benjamin sold the property during 1890s financial crisis, and it was later renamed ‘Allawah’ and then ‘Risdon’. It was purchased by the Girls Friendly Society of the Anglican Church during the Second World War for use as a young service-women’s hostel, and was owned by the Trustee for The Girls Friendly Society until 2010.