I have passed this house a number of times in the last year and have noticed that an owner is having the house restored. This restoration has been ongoing and at times there appears to have not been any progress. As of May 2022 there has been some substantial work being done. I look forward to posting an update at some time in the future to showcase the finished version. This is a house with history and many stories to be told. I posted one of those stories in my initial post. In this update there is a further history and background to Latanga's link to one of modern Brisbane's early families.
May 2022 Update
Katanga 1884
The following is taken from the Brisbane City Council's Heritage Register. I am doing an update to this post as when I first posted and took photographs of this house there are now major renovations or restorations taking place. It must be noted that the BCC heritage information was posted in 2001. The photographs that I took and posted here were in 2021. In 2001 the house is described as being intact and maintained in good condition.
"This fine nineteenth century home was built for James Robert Dickson Jr, and his wife, Cordelia, in 1884. Dickson was one of six sons of the Honourable James Robert Dickson, an auctioneer, businessman, politician and, briefly, Queensland Premier, who built Toorak nearby in 1867. Dickson was a partner in his father’s auction business, which had premises in Queen Street, the City. Katanga was built on land originally owned by William Weekes, and later, John Cooksley, both prominent land speculators in the area. Dickson purchased subdivisions 41- 44 of suburban allotments 7 and 8, in 1884 – a parcel of well over an acres. Dickson was first listed in Langside Road in Post Office Directories in 1885-86, suggesting that his house was built soon after the land was purchased. At this time Hamilton was characterised by the coexistence of large estates bearing fine homes, and large areas of undeveloped land held by speculators. This vacant land was steadily subdivided into suburban allotments. Later, the grounds of some of the fine estates were subdivided as well, particularly after the arrival of the tramline through Hamilton to Ascot in 1899. Katanga, constructed on vacant land subdivided by speculators, is a good example of this pattern. When Katanga was built, Hamilton and Ascot were emerging as elite residential areas populated by the wealthy and the middle class. The area offered several advantages. It was cooled by sea breezes, offered splendid views of the city and river, and was sufficiently close to the city to make commuting to work a reality for professionals, public servants, and businessmen. It is difficult to tell when the Dicksons left the property, though evidence suggests that they sold the property sometime in 1905. By the 1920s, the land had been progressively reduced in size, but today the house remains on a somewhat larger than average block. The house currently appears to be intact, and in well maintained condition."
The First Birth at Katanga
July 5, 1885 sadly a son was still born to the wife of James R. Dickson Jnr. at Katanga Breakfast Creek. On August 21, 1886 the family had good news with the birth of a son to Mrs. Dickson at Katanga.
James R. Dickson Jnr.'s letter to the editor of the Brisbane Courier June, 1899. This letter has some very interesting information regarding the history of Hamilton and where it was situated at that time in relation to the town of Brisbane.
Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Friday 23 June 1899, page 7
TRAMWAY EXTENSION.
TO THE EDITOR.
Sir,-Your sub-leader under the above heading of today's date, 22nd instant, brings somewhat into greater prominence a matter of very great importance, as you properly state, to the community, and I may add, particularly to the Hamilton district namely, the tramway extension from its present terminus at the Breakfast Creek Bridge to Ascot (Racecourse), and the opposition of the Commissioner for Railways to the granting of the Order-in-Council for the construction of the same. Surely the Commissioner, beyond making what may be considered merely a formal or departmental objection, can scarcely be serious, unless he desires to monopolise the whole of the traffic of the country, whether catered for by him or not, as is the case in question, thereby reverting to the railway belief that the people were born for the railways, in-stead of the railways being constructed for the people. It must be borne in mind that tlhe railway from the Central (City) Station to Ascot covers a distance of not less than six miles, which in itself is a considerable distance for people to be compelled to travel who only live at the outside not more than three to three and a-half miles from the oiity on each journey, and only a very few at that, who can be so accommodated, as compared with the inducements offered by the proposed extension, to those living in the heart of the district, and covering the whole distance in three to three and a half miles, tihereby saving considerably in travelling and in time; also, that the railway to Ascot never was intended to serve the requirements of the district named, as I am of opinion will be admitted on all hands, it being more to serve the locality of Clayfield and thereabouts than other parts be-yond. It was only owing to the success and energy of the promoters of the Q.T.C. that Ascot eventually became sufficiently attractive to make it of any importance, and it is only of importance as far as about, say, half of a dozen race meetings in the course of the year. When admitting the importance of this particular station on such occasions, it can be shown that the railway only carries 25 per cent of the whole traffic, and that at considerable cost to the ordinary traffic, leaving the remaining 75 per cent to find their way as best possible. The ordinary dally traffic is not worth mention perhaps twenty or thirty passengers at the outside which will wholly disappear with the introduction of the trams even to the Hamilton. Now, sir, seeing that the traffic on the above special occasions far exceeds the con-trol of the department, can the Commis-sioner's objection be seriously considered as having any weight with the community be-yond an official protest with the view before mentioned ? It must also be remembered that Ascot, after all, is only a station on the Pinkenba line, Pinkenba being the terminus eventually to become a very important one ; and, whether Ascot existed or not, Pinkenba would still require to be served. There tfore, the existence of the line in no sense depends on the bone of contention,. Ascot being the only station affected, and only to the extent of about half-a-dozen times in the course of tlhe year, and at these par-ticular periods there being more than suffi-cient traffic for all concerned, is it just or reasonable that a whole district, In no sense served by raliway communication with the metropolis, merely having an unimport-and station at one extreme end of it, should be deprived of communication with the city by the most improved system in the world, simply because the Commissioner for Rail-ways objects, in protection of his own department, which may, or may not, become affected ? As far as the eastern parts of the Hamilton district are concerned, they are practically without reasonable communi-cation with the city, as the existing omnibus service is by no means adequate, and almost useless, having done more to retard the prosperity and progress of the district than can be easily imagined. I trust that the Importance of the petition now before the ratepayers and others for signature, which is being so influentially signed, will appeal to their sense of what Is right and just, as it appears to be doing, in promoting the In-terests and welfare of the choicest and most attractive suburb of the city of Brisbane, which, with tram communication with the city, will know no bounds. — I am, sir, &c.,
JAMES R. DICKSON, Jun. Katanga, Hamilton, 22nd June.
My initial post in January 2021.
When doing my ride and house research on Wednesday I saw the rear of this house. Today I went back to capture the image. Why this house? Purely it stands out amongst the multi million dollar neighbours for obvious reasons. Every house or home tells a story. My research tells a story to match the sad fate of this once magnificent home. D'Arcy Amos won a Military Medal in WW1 for his deeds. He was the new car sales manager for Eagers Cars for 25 years. In 1938 he was present when the first Buick was rolled off the assembly line in Wickham Street, The Valley. A prominent businessman and sportsman the house was the centre of many social activities for the well to do Brisbane social scene of the 1930 and 40s. The night before his son's wedding in St. Augustines at Hamilton in 1949 he died of a heart attack in this house aged 52.
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