Linstarfield Not The First
The First Linstarfield - Enderley Road
The following is taken from the Brisbane City Council Heritage Citation for Linstarfield in Enderley Road.
‘Linstarfield’ is an elegant Federation era timber house that was built on two acres circa 1917 for Percy Rylance,
a successful mine owner and the father of Brisbane architect Mervyn Rylance. In 1919, the property was
purchased by HG Noble, another wealthy mine owner, who expanded the grounds to six acres and made
significant improvements including a stable complex (since demolished) to house his racehorses and an
imposing sandstone boundary wall which today extends into Alexandra Road. A small timber building which
served as staff quarters is located near the western boundary. The house has been altered and extended but the
main part of the house has retained much of its original appearance.
In 1919, the two acre property was sold to Henry George Noble, another prosperous mine owner. Once again,
registration of the title appears to have lagged behind possession of the property as, according to the Noble
family, Henry Noble’s brother organised the purchase of the house during the honeymoon of Henry and Agnes
Noble in September 1918. The Nobles renamed the house Linstarfield, creating the name from three of their
racehorses – Lincome, Snowstar and Fieldacre.
From 1919, several other blocks surrounding the house were purchased by HG Noble’s wife, Agnes. This gave
the Nobles almost six acres of land between Enderley Road, Sefton Road and Alexandra Road including much
of Francis Spence’s original holding.
After immigrating as a child from England in the 1870s, H.G. Noble started his own business in Brisbane as a
forwarding agent and cartage contractor in the 1890s. At the time that he purchased the Enderley Road property,
HG Noble was enjoying the height of his business success after acquiring several collieries. His company
employed over 400 people and was one of the biggest producers of coal in Queensland.
The Nobles were active in Brisbane “society”. HG Noble was on the Committee of the Queensland Turf Club, a
foundation member of the Brisbane Club and a Brisbane City Council alderman in 1909-10. He and his wife were
also foundation members of the Royal Queensland Golf Club. HG Noble was appointed Vice-Consul for Finland
in Queensland in 1920. He died in 1934. The Nobles’ four children were all born at Linstarfield. They were
delivered by Dr Thelander who lived at nearby Rangemoor in Adelaide Street East.
While living at Linstarfield, the Nobles employed several people to help take care of the family and the property.
These included a nurse for the children, a cook, a housemaid, a gardener and a chauffeur. A small timber
building on the western side of the house served as quarters for some of the staff. The children’s nurse lived in
the house and some staff may have lived off the site. The former staff quarters has survived but has not been
inspected internally. It is possible that it was built by the Percy Rylance prior to the sale of the property to HG
Noble.
HG Noble’s wealth allowed him to make significant improvements to Linstarfield. According to the history
published by the Noble family, these included the construction of a purpose built stable complex ((known as
The Lodge), for the family’s racehorses, with accommodation for the trainer and stable staff. An electrical plant
was built to supply the entire property with electricity. A landscape gardener from Melbourne oversaw the
development of the grounds which included a lawn tennis court, putting green, large rose gardens and a fish
pond complete with a bridge leading to an island. HG Noble also built a large billiard and smoking room on the
northern side of the house and a private kindergarten near the northern boundary, known as Chellwood. The
billiard room was demolished by a later owner, but the school has survived (with some alterations) and is now a
private home in Sefton Avenue.
Another improvement made to the property by HG Noble was the construction of the sturdy brick and sandstone
wall along the Enderley and Alexandra Road boundaries. The wall is interspersed with substantial stone and cast
iron pillars linked with heavy chains and extends east from Linstarfield along Enderley Road and into Alexandra
Road. It continues until the northern boundary of 102 Alexandra Road which once marked the northeastern
corner of Noble’s land. Various changes have been made to some sections of wall that front other properties in
Enderley and Alexandra Road, however, the wall still provides physical evidence of the extent of HG Noble’s
holding along these frontages.
Photographic evidence reveals that the original entrance to Linstarfield was located on the corner of Alexandra and Enderley Roads. After HG Noble subdivided the land between Linstarfield and Alexandra Road for
residential development in the mid-1920s, the current entrance on Enderley Road became the main entry point.
The large sandstone piers and iron gates were presumably constructed around this time. Over an acre of land
was retained around the house after the subdivision. As part of the subdivision, Sefton Avenue was created on
the northern side of the property.
The Nobles sold Linstarfield in 1928 to Alice Russell, the wife of a medical practitioner. In 1946, the house was
sold once again, to Charles and Mary Whitehouse. The Whitehouses, who raised a family at Linstarfield, further
subdivided the property and planned extensions and renovations to the house using the Brisbane architectural
firm of Chambers and Ford. They also demolished the billiard room, which included a viewing gallery. The home
was sold in 1982 after the death of Mary Whitehouse.
Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Thursday 16 March 1922, page 4
MR. H. G. NOBLE AND HIS HORSES.
"Linstarfield," is a combination of the names of three of the horses— Lincome, Snow Star, and Fieldacre first raced in Brisbane by Mr. H. G. Noble, is an appropriate and euphonious name for that, gentleman's home and grounds. It is charmingly situated on one of the highest parts of the select suburb of Clayficld, and commands a fine view, extending to the waters of Moreton Bay. It embraces an area of six acres, and is admirably laid out, spacious lawns, flower beds, shade trees, and shrubs combining to make a picturesque setting (or the beautiful home they surround. It is strikingly evident from a stroll over the grounds that Mr. Noble has spared nothing to make the place a delight and a comfort. His aesthetic taste is personified in many ways in much that has been accomplished. Originally when the : property wis bought by Mr. Noble, an expert was brought from Melbourne to lay out the grounds, and the pioneering work has been well preserved, by the gardeners now regularly employed. Within such spacious grounds it was not surprising to find a well kopt tennis court,but, in addition, there is a fine putting ground, which would claim the admiration of golfers. ...............
Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Saturday 22 May 1926, page 12
Daily Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1903; 1916 - 1926), Sunday 11 May 1924, page 4
Messrs. Clarence Noble and Co, and Charlton, Elliott, and Sons report a successful sale of the well-known Linstarfield estate, Ascot, which was offered by them on Saturday afternoon. Eighteen allotments found purchasers at an average price of £300 each. Three blocks on the corner of Alexandra road and Enderley road realised £400 each. The total sales for the afternoon amounted to £0195, which includes a cottage situated on the new road and sold for £1100. The rcmaining few allotments are expected to be disposed of privately.
The Second Linstarfield Markwell Street Hamilton
Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Friday 21 September 1934, page 14
Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Tuesday 9 October 1934, page 22
Linstarfield The Third Kitchener Road Ascot
The above photographs from Realestate.com.au advertisement.
Brisbane Telegraph (Qld. : 1948 - 1954), Tuesday 8 August 1950, page 41
AT AN EARLY DATE Sale By Public Auction
KITCHENER RD. ASCOT TWO STORY BRICK RESIDENCE VACANT POSSESSION IN SEPTEMBER. is a superior modern brick Residence, with tiled roof, built Immediately prior to the war, under the supervision of Architect E, P. TREWERN. it is within a few minutes of the tram line, at Lancaster Road, and faces east, with a brick wall and lawn about 3 ft. above the street level. The entrance is by bricked oaths and steps to the front entrance porch and stairway hall to the upper floor. On the grbund floor:— Enclosed brick piazza 18 ft. x 11 ft., lounge 24 ft. x 15 ft., with brick hearth, dining room 15 ft. x 16 ft., kitchen 14 Vi ft. x 12 ft., fitted with stainless steel sink, extensive cupboards, electric cooker, maid's room, 11 ft. x 10 ft., kitchen porch, laundry. maid's bathroom, presses, &c. Upstairs the bedrooms are 20 ft. x 14 ft.. 16 ft. X 16 ft.. 8 ft. x 11 ft., 14 ft. 6 in. x 14 ft., and enclosed sleepout 10 ft. x 14ft.; particularly goad bathroom with tiled walls, floor, cupboards and lavatory. The whole house is carperted wall to wall throughout and is fitted with very modern convenience, sewered, hot water system, &c. The brick garage has been extended to take two cars and is now 35 ft. x 11 ft. The land has a frontage of 75 ft. by a depth of 132 ft., and the area is 36.8 perches. It is particularly level land with a very slight slope towards the street. The ground floor area of the house is approximately 1,890 sq. ft., and the upstairs portion Is approximately 1,400 sq. ft., making a total of aproximately 3,200 sq ft., plus garage of 385 sq. ft. The whole property is in first class order. This sale offers a unique opportunity to secure a beautiful home in an ideal locality, with vacant possession. Furniture will be sold subsequent to the property sale.
Plans and full particulars: — SHARP & MUSGRAVE Auctioneers, 329 Queen Street, Phones B0141, B5050.
Henry George Noble - A Queensland Coal Identity
Darling Downs Gazette (Qld. : 1881 - 1922), Friday 5 November 1909, page 5
The following is taken from the document "Coal Mining Then and Now by The Ipswich City Council
Denmark Hill Conservation Park:
People walking around the tracks on Denmark Hill can still see a few traces of former mining.
The City Colliery was opened by a group of investors in 1912, in spite of initial opposition from the Council which did
not want a mine so close to the city centre. A railway siding was built from the West Ipswich station to transport the coal
and a tunnel was driven in below Moffat Street, reaching the Aberdare Seam. By 1919, the mine was employing 50 men.
In that year, it was sold to Henry Noble, owner of the largest group of coal mines in Queensland, and renamed Noblevale
No 6. Noble installed electricity, better ventilation and made other improvements. However the mine had problems
including fires and an unsafe roof. Other tunnels were opened in later years but were never very successful.
QUEENSLAND COAL - AN IMPORTANT TRANSACTION.
Mr. H. G. Noble, of Brisbane the well-known coalmaster, has completed the purchase on his own behalf of the celebrated Auld colliery properties Bogside (freehold), Fernie Creek, and Wattle Glen. Mr. Noble already about a quarter of the steam coal trade of the district, from the Swanbank and Noblevale properties and this addition to his interests will give him another 1000 acres of best coal lands in Queensland. The Auld mines are equipped with modern electric coal-cutting, machines and all upto date appliances and facilities for handling a very large output.
Daily Standard (Brisbane, Qld. : 1912 - 1936), Thursday 3 October 1935, page 10
COAL FOR HIGHWAY
Part Played by H. G. Noble Pty. Ltd.
Another Brisbane firm associated with the successful campletion of the Hornibrook Highway is that of H. G. Noble, Pty., Ltd., which supplied the large quantities of coal necessary in such a big project
It was in 1893 that the late H. G. Noble established the present business under the name of H. G. Noble and Co. In addition to carrying and forwarding, a large lighterage business was soon built up, and the agency was secured for tho Bogside Swanbank and Belmont Collieries in the Ipswich district, Later Mr. Noble acquired the sole control of those collieries, the name of which was altered to Noblevale Collieries. In 1914 the colliery business was formed Into a limited liability, company, under tho name of H. G. Noble Pty., Limited.
It Is a remarkable coincidence that this business has been associated with the construction of every bridge built In Brisbane. The material for both the Albert (Indooroopllly) and Victoria Bridges was all lightered by the firm of H. G. Noble and Co., whilst the company has supplied the coal re quirements of the builders of the Grey street Bridge and the Hornlbrook Highway, and is now supplying coal for the construction of the new Kangaroo Point Bridge.
Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Friday 21 September 1934, page 12
The death occurred in Brisbane yesterday morning of Mr. H. G. Noble, proprietor of Noblevale collieries in the Ipswich district. Mr. Noble was born in London and came to Brisbane at an early age. At one time he was chief clerk for the shipping firm of Howard Smith, Ltd. He decided to enter business on his own account, and became agent for the collieries which he acquired later. Horse racing interested Mr.Noble as a sport, and he owned several good gallopers, including a notable performer in Lanius. He was a life member of the Royal Queensland Golf Club. Mr. Noble, as vice-consul for Finland, did much valuable service for that country, and was decorated with the order of the White Rose of Finland. He leaves a widow, three daughters, and a son. His remains were cremated at the Brisbane Crematorium yesterday.
Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Thursday 17 March 1949, page 5
Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Saturday 7 October 1950, page 3
No comments:
Post a Comment