Wickham Terrace - A Weekend Drive Along The The Green Hills
In Brisbane Town of 1860 the town folk would enjoy a horse ride or coach ride around the Green Hills. The route we know today along George Street then into Upper Roma Street, Petrie Terrace and then along Wickham Terrace was a popular route for those who wished to enjoy the pleasant views of Brisbane Town. The Green Hills also incorporated the area on the town side where the current Roma Street train station area exists. Popular for cricket and other recreational activities the Green Hills was the outer lying area to the west of Brisbane Town. It is very difficult to comprehend looking at today's Roma Street Station and Roma Street Parklands that this area was originally the outer green belt of the early 1860s Brisbane.
Wickham Terrace became a residential area for the wealthy merchants of the town with its natural high position, cooling breezes and views across town and down to the river. The first Brisbane Boys Grammar School was built on ground opposite Herschell Street.
In January of 1860 the very first Brisbane Town Council was in operation. Patrick Payne an Alderman raised the issue of what a splendid buggy ride it was along the Green Hills and how improvement to the road conditions would only enhance this ride.
Moreton Bay Courier
(Brisbane, Qld. : 1846 - 1861), Tuesday 31 January 1860, page 2
MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
Monday (Yesterday.)
The usual weekly meeting
of the Council was held yesterday. Present: J. Petrie, Esq, Mayor, Aldermen
Jeays, Stephens, Sutton, Warren, Edmondstone, Mayne, Cribb and Hockings.
Ald. Mayne desired to
lay before the Improvement Committee the state of the road from Government
House along Wickham Terrace, and for that purpose made a motion pressing it on
their attention. He said if the road round Wickham Terrace was stumped and cleared,
which might be done for a small sum, there would be safety for travellers on
one of the most splendid drives, commanding one of the most beautiful
prospects, in the place. The road was much used at the present time, and
already there were a number of houses erected, and as the carriages now began
to roll about, they should render it safe to travel in the prettiest part of the
town.
Ald. Cribb would second
the proposal of Ald. Mayne to direct the attention of the Improvement Committee
to the state of the road from Government House round Wickham terrace. Ald.
Jeays, in support of the proposal, remarked that the road spoken of would open
up a fine ride or drive to the Green Hills, and be a great improvement, as it
was a part that was much frequented. The Council was unanimous that the question
should have the consideration of the committee.
Once road condidtions were improved it also enhanced the attractiveness of the area for building on. The Wickham Terrace ridge became one of the first very desirable living areas of Brisbane Town. There are three ridges that firstly attracted the more wealthier settler. They were Gregory Terrace, Leickhardt Street and Wickham Terrace. Between these ridges were the swampy hollows and steep streets where the workers dwellings were built and are still evident today.
Bryntirion is one of only a few of these original homes built on the Green Hills of Brisbane that still stand. While it has undergone extensive additions it is a reminder of a very early Brisbane Town and the role Wickham Terrace still plays in city life.
The Queensland Government Heritage Register link for Brynitron is below.
https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/detail/?id=600166
The following is taken from the Queensland Heritage Register for Bryntirion.
The house was built in 1861 for Edward Southerden, a successful Queen Street draper, to a design by James Furnival who had recently established his practice in Brisbane. Extensions have included an 1876 design by Richard Gailey.
In 1882 it was sold to Richard Edwards who gave the house its Welsh name. Edwards was a partner in the drapery firm Edwards & Chapman, and a director of Telegraph newspapers for thirty years. He became the first member for Oxley in the federal parliament in 1901 and retired in 1913. In 1896 Edwards bought and demolished the neighbouring Athol Cottage and established Bryntirion's large garden in its place. Richard Edwards died in 1915 and the house remained in the family, occupied by his grandchildren and used as a doctor's surgery.
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