Arnold Henry Conrad received the Order of St. Michael and St. George or as we commonly know the CMG award in 1977 for his services to architecture. A pillar of the Queensland architectural community he has left a legacy that hopefully will not be lost. The following is taken from the current firm Conrad Garggett's web site where Michael Keniger former Professor and Head of the School of Architecture and Planning of the University of Queensland speaks of the firm Conrad Gargett’s legacy to the Architecture industry.
“Over its long life, the practice has directly assisted to shape both the culture and character of Brisbane and beyond it, to the built fabric of towns and cities across Queensland and Interstate. The record reveals the range and diversity of building types, from the utilitarian to the iconic, which form the body of the practice’s work.”
To read a biography of A. H. Conrad this is the web reference.
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/conrad-arnold-henry-9814
A. H. Conrad as he was known was by 1931 part of an architectural firm that boasted many of Brisbane's leading architects. All the members of this group have left distinguished individual architectural legacies. There was a dissolving of this partnership but all continued in practice individually or in other firms. A number of houses that I have posted are the creations of the architetcts named in the followoing Courier Mail article. Names such as Powell, Gargett, Atkinson and Rae have left character homes that still feature across the suburban skyline.
Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Saturday 3 October 1931, page 2
NOTICE is hereby given that the partnership lately subsisting between us, the undersigned, HENRY WALLACE ATKINSON, LANGE LEOPOLD POWELL, ARNOLD HENRY CONRAD, THOMAS BRENAN FEMISTER GARGETT, and GEORGE RAE, practising as Architects at Commerce House, 125 Adelaide street, Brisbane, under the style or firm of ATKINSON, POWELL, & CONRAD, has this day been dissolved by mutual consent.
As witness our hands this Thirtieth day of September, 1931.
H. W. ATKINSON.
Witness to the signature of Henry Wallace Atkinson: ELLISON MAC-ARTNEY, Solicitor, Brisbane.
LANGE L. POWELL.
Witness to the signature of Lange Leopold Powell: DUDLEY McNAB, Solicitor. Brisbane.
ARNOLD H. CONRAD.
Witness to the signature of Arnold Henry Conrad: JOHN A. WALSH, Solicitor, Brisbane.
T. B. F. GARGETT.
GEORGE RAE.
Witness to the signatures of Thomas Brenan Femister Gargett and Georee Rae: E. M. BANFIELD.
The house above was the one that A. H. Conrad and his wife Hilda lived in for over three decades. Designed by A. H. himself and still beautifully presented to this day the house commands a presence with its dark brick and tile roof with the front a mixture of a range of interwar house design influences. In March of 1932 the Conrads took a lease or rented the property Devoncourt. This house was owned by Hugh McMaster the well known grazier of Devoncourt Station, Cloncurry. They lived in Devoncourt until 1936 when they moved to a house on the corner of Baldwin and Henry Street Ascot. The electoral roll has the Conrads living in Henry Street for 1936 and 1937. The first record of the Conrads occupying 44 Langside Road is in 1943. I believe the house would have been built and residence by the Conrads taken up around 1938 just before World War 2.
Mrs. Hilda Conrad was a very active contributor to Brisbane's charity organisations and social scene. She was involved in the Mothercraft Association of Queensland, the Creche and Kindergarten Association and The Institute of International Affairs. Many society and fund raising activities were held at Devoncourt during the 1930s and then at 44 Langside Road
Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Monday 7 October 1940, page 12
Bon Voyage Party
In honour of the Consul for the United States of America (Mr. J. F. Ragland) and Mrs. Ragland. Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Conrad will entertain guests tonight at their home. Langside Road, Hamilton, at a bon vovage evening prior to their departure for America. Hoses in red and sunburst tonings will decorate the lounge and dining room. The hostess will favour a frock of mist grey seventh heaven, trimmed with mauve and violet velvet ribbon, and she will add a matching coatee.
During the second world war the Mothercraft Association was active in supporting the war effort. When reading this today it can be easily seen that the world of the 1930s and 1940s was an entirely world in relation to the roles of men and women within society.
Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Tuesday 8 April 1941, page 11
Train Leaders for Emergency
COURSE FOR WOMEN
FoR training, women as emergency leaders in case of need, the Mothercraft Association has planned a course of lectures and classes to extend over two weeks, beginning on April 21, and covering home nursing, mothercraft, first aid child management, hygiene of camp and home, nutrition principles, and practical cookery. This course is intended for those who already have some training, or some scientific knowledge, and to meet the convenience of women engaged in other forms of work the daily lectures will be given in three sessions, so that those attending the course may take it from 9.30 to 11 a.m., from 11.30 to 12.45, or from 2 to 3.30 p.m. Medical men and women will give the instruction in First Aid, Nursing, Mothercraft, and A.R.P. Hygiene of camp and home will be taught by Mr. W. McNeil, and Kindergarten 'principals, Miss M. Cochrane and Miss M. Crump, will take the classes in child management. Examinations will be conducted at the end of the second week, and the fortnight's course will conclude with a week-end camp. Those interested in the project are asked to get in touch with Mrs. A. H. Conrad (secretary to the Mothercraft Association) at the Mothercraft Rooms, National Mutual Building, Queen Street.
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Today the legacy of Arnold Henry Conrad is greater than the houses, hospitals, churches and commercial buildings that he was involved in the design of. His real legacy is the architectural firm of Conrad Gargett. Arnold Henry's son William Arnold Henry became an architect and joined the family firm. William's wife was an outstanding contributor to the Conrad Gargett firm through her outstanding skills in landscaping and design. Now an institution within Australia, Conrad Gargett is based on the work of those early pioneers of Atkinson, Gargett, Conrad, Powell and Rae.
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