This building has seen a number of different iterations over nearly 120 years. Looking at it today it still has a modern appearance and has stood the test of time. When you see it cradled by the surrounding architecture it somehow forms a centre piece within the vast range of architectural styles present. Robin Dod's was arguably the leading architect here in Brisbane at the turn of the 20th century. He designed this house at 97 Wickham Terrace for his brother Espie the Queensland Government's Medical Officer.
The following taken from the web site Must Do Brisbane
"This unusual little town house nestled at the base of Silverton tower was designed by architect Robin Dods and built in 1906 for his brother Dr. Espie Dods as a combined residence and medical consulting room. The design was inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement which was a common influence in Scottish Dods’s work.
Originally the property stood next to the grand family home belonging to their stepfather Dr Charles Marks but it was demolished along with its grand weeping fig tree in 1982 to make way for the adjacent tower block.
Although Espie only lived and operated out of here for a few years before moving up the road to Callendar House it remained in the family and was rented out to doctors for ensuing decades until around 1980. After completion of Silverton the house was converted to a restaurant.
There is also a lower ground floor below which is not visible from the street and in its time it would have housed the servants, kitchen and scullery while the street level would have had the medical room/s at the front along with the bedrooms and living room of the family."
The following is the obituary for Espie Dods. He was found dead in his garage at his house in Wickhan Terrace in December 1930. He was 56 years of age and had been the Government Medical Officer for 29 years.
Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), Thursday 11 December 1930, page 55
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OBITUARY.
Dr. J. Espie Dods.
THE death of Dr. J. Espie Dods, Government Medical Officer, occurred at his home in Wickham-terrace on December 6 with tragic suddenness. Although his professional engagements had been numerous and arduous in recent months, he had appeared in the best of health, and the news of his death came as a shock to all who had been intimately associated with him. His cheerful and kindly disposition had won him many friends, particularly among officers in the public service, and these regard his passing in the light of a personal loss. The late Dr. Dods was in his 56th year. He was born in London, but came to Queensland with his people when he was a child. His early education was received at the Brisbane Boys' Grammar School, from which he was sent to Edinburgh University to study medicine. Having obtained his degree he returned to Brisbane in 1899 and opened a practice. His immediate success placed him in the public eye, and two years later he was appointed Government Medical Officer, which position he held until the time of his death. He was Commonwealth Medical Officer in Brisbane until last year, and was medical referee for the A.M.P. Society in Queensland. After the war he was elected president of the Queensland branch of the B.M.A., and he was on the Queensland Council of that body for many years. He was president of the Queensland Club for four years in succession, and was a trustee of the club for a much longer period. An enviable war record was possessed by the late doctor, who served for three and a half years as medical officer in the Light Horse. He was badly wounded during an action on the Peninsula, and was awarded the D.S.O. and M.C. for valiant services rendered there. He was in action during the South African war also, being attached to the First Queens-land Contingent in a medical capacity. He is survived by his widow and four children.
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