George Rae Architect

 George Rae a Scottish born architect born in 1901 was responsible for the design of a number of Brisbane's more significant and first strata titled buildings during the inter war years. Highview on Dornoch Terrace is one of those. Others are Greystaines at Hamilton and Carrington on Gregory Terrace. Highview shown in these photographs like all of the mentioned buildings still has character regardless of the time passed. Many like Greystaines have been converted into a single residence.

As one of Brisbane’s most successful architects in the interwar period, George Rae had first established his own architectural firm in 1933. Prior to this he had been employed at the larger Brisbane firm of Atkinson, Conrad and Powell. Rae was renowned for designing modern buildings in Brisbane in the interwar period such as multi-unit residential buildings that were a very new idea in this period. The purpose built block of self-contained flats was marketed mainly at single people and childless couples and the earliest self-contained flats in Brisbane were generally conveniently situated close to trams, trains and shopping facilities in inner-city suburbs such as Spring Hill, New Farm and Fortitude Valley. Although seen as a sophisticated lifestyle, flat living was fairly uncommon in Brisbane in this period, with only 8.4% of Brisbane residents living in flats. Rae designed several important Brisbane examples such as ‘Greystaines’ on Kingsford Smith Drive, ‘Green Gables’ at New Farm, ‘Casa del Mar’ at New Farm and ‘Highveiw’ at Highgate Hill. Rae was also credited as being one of the leading architects for designing picture theatres in this period in Queensland.

Highview

Greystaines 

In 1933 George Rae wrote about the use of electricity outlets in every room when designing new homes. 

Daily Standard (Brisbane, Qld. : 1912 - 1936), Tuesday 28 February 1933, page 8

The year 1939 was a busy one for George Rae now well establishe das an architetc in his own right. I have provided information on three homes that appeared in the Better Homes section of the Brisbane newspapers. 

Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Tuesday 17 October 1939, page 10

BETTER HOME IDEAL HOME FOR YOUNG COUPLE 

THE expert combination of face brickwork, cement rendering, timber and tiles has produced a delightful home for Mr. and Mrs, Andrew Crooke in Coronation Drive, Milton, It was designed and built under the architectural supervision of Mr. George Rae, A.R.A.I.A., and. the interior decoration was done by a brother of the owner Mr. A. N. Crooke. Full advantage has been taken of the gently sloping site to accommodate a roomy garage at the front beneath the single storey plan and the best use has been made of an extensive view of the Brisbane River. The good effect of cooling summer breezes off the river influenced the plan. The exterior shows a sensible balance of face bricks with textured and timbered walls and a red tiled roof, the simple plan of the roof being broken effectively by a chimney pot  bands of face brick, give contrast at the entrance and interest is added by the large arched veranda, cement cantilever awning suitable for displaying potplants and beneath it the refreshing green of the garage doors. One of the most charming rooms is the lounge, which is outstanding for a tastefully designed open fireplace in textured bricks picked out in white bonding, having a specially designed grate and a bantel and supplementary bookshelves of silky oak. The bookshelves are built as an "L" unit to make good use of arid beautify a corner.

The house at New Farm still stands today and makes up a wonderful visual tapestry of Brisbane home architetcture on the New Farm Park end of Oxlade Drive.

Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Tuesday 4 July 1939, page 14

IMPOSING HOME AT NEW FARM

Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Dodwell are the owners of this new and imposing brick home on the corner of Brunswick Street and Oxlade Drive, New Farm. The larger photograph shows the elevation to Oxlade Drive and the pleasing pergoda which spans the drive from the main entrance. The smaller picture shows the frontage to Brunswick Street which overlooks New Farm Park. The home was built under the architectural supervision of Mr. George Rae.

In 1939 George Rae designed his own home called Robrae and had it built in Ryans Road St. Lucia. Rae' scottish heritage is very obvious in the naming of the house.

Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Tuesday 9 May 1939, page 18

For BETTER HOMES

AN ARCHITECT'S HOME AT ST. LUCIA

WHEN an architect builds a home for himself we can be sure that he has done every thing that will express his idea of the ideal home and it is certain it will incorporate all the best points of his specialised training and experience. For those reasons it is always refreshing to see such a home and we must express appreciation to Mr. George Rae for the opportunity of visiting his new home which overlooks a pretty reach of the Brisbane River in a setting of painted gums and friendly hills at Ryan Road, St. Lucia. Robrae, a portmanteau title derived from the family names, is a family home from floor to roof, and in achieving this both Mr. and Mrs. Rae have expressed the highest ideal of all home-making. The exterior is an outstanding example of the modified Georgian character in which decidedly modern treatment has been introduced to certain features with perfect harmony. This modern motif is particularly noticeable at the entrance porch in the use of sheer surfaces, a horizontal canopy in character with a horizontal band of bricks contrasting with the clean texture of the walls and in the glass bricks that frame the vertically lined door. In this little corner alone we are given a glimpse of the real beauty that may be achieved in what is generally called the severe modern design. It is a treatment that depends for its success upon the effectiveness of light and shade, for it is in these things alone that colour and warmth may be induced into the otherwise cold surfaces. The accompanying photograph of the entrance illustrates the point very well. Before we enter Robrae we are attracted by another feature of planning at the rear of the home, where a three-storey effect has been gained by accommodating the garage and laundry under the sundeck. This also is shown in the principal photograph, which is appreciated more when viewed from a distance in its natural setting. Here also the modern note is conspicuous in the bands of brick that line the wall supporting the terrace and on the garage itself and the handrail on the sundeck completes the effect and introduces a nautical note. The traditional threshold of Robrae puts the visitor at his ease immediately, because of its atmosphere of glowing friendliness. A carpet of Persian rust covers the floor from wall to wall, and is in complete harmony with the papered walls of heavy ivory and gold. The lounge is a beautifully proportioned room, with lofty ceilings and liberal window areas which are draped with curtains of bottle green chenille velvet and oyster net. The green is also carried to the sage carpet and, with the ivory and gold wall decoration of the entrance carried through, the general effect is of spaciousness, brightness, and cool quiet. An outstanding feature of this room is the open fireplace in modern treatment of ivory, which contrasts with the wall decoration in its simplicity of line. It has an over-mantel of highly polished oak surmounted by a tiered mirror on which is graved a romantic galleon with the wind in its grace ful canvas. Mrs. Rae is a fond musician, and a baby grand piano occupies an important place between the fireplace and a tall window. The lounge and occasional chairs are upholstered with woven fabric in rust and cream, and the cushions are of woody green and rust. A modernistic note has been struck in the dining room furniture, which is in beautifully grained cabinet wood. Tall chairs are upholstered in woody green ottoman. There is access from the dining room to the spacious verandah, which is furnished with lacquered chairs and tables; and from here visitors are treated to a refreshing view of the river and the surrounding foothills of Mt. Coot-tha. Steps from the veran dah. lead to the sundeck out of doors. Maragret, the 12-year-old daughter of the house, has a wing to herself. Her bedroom has built-in wardrobes to store her childish treasures, and the cream lacquered dressing table was especially designed for her use. A porch opens off the bedroom to provide an ideal playroom, and a small hall leads to the bathroom.

THE stairway from the entrance hall leads to the owners' bedroom and Mr. Rae's study. The bedroom is naturally a charming place of rest. Built in cupboards dispense with wardrobes, but the bed and specially made dressing table are of silver ash and they are shown to best effect against walls of cream and carpets of amber. The main bathroom is just off the bedroom and has an apple green bath of porcelain and basin with walls of cream tiles. The sleep out overlooks the sundeck and provides a delightful outlook. Throughout Robrae we see the crystallisation of an ideal which has been cherished by Mr. and Mrs. Rae as all home makers do. Their wise planning has given them an excellent home, which will become the more beautiful with the enjoyment of the years. The dramatic effects of light and shade, achieved by delicacy in design, are shown in this new of Robrae, the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Rae.