Since the early 1960s, the Torbreck apartment building on Highgate Hill has been a Brisbane landmark. It stands on the site of a colonial era house of the same name.
1880 – 1900
Fernando Papi Education Pioneer and Josephine Papi Community Activist
Ferdinand Papi was an early Italian migrant with tertiary qualifications who made a great contribution to Queensland education. His wife Josephine was active in community activities.
The Dornoch Terrace Bridge
The original bridge on Dornoch Terrace passing over Boundary Street was built in the 1880s. The current bridge was the first stage of a river crossing that was never built.
Sankey Street, Steeped in History
Sankey Street is one of the steepest in Brisbane and is named after a Sergeant-Major with links to early Queensland military history. A house on the corner has an interesting history.
Letter to the Editor – The Postal Service
Delivery of a letter from Highgate Hill to the city by the next day was expected in 1885, preferably with the morning delivery!
Highgate Hill Reservoir 1889
Problems with water reticulation in Highgate Hill were solved by the building of a reservoir in 1889. It was gravity fed from Gold Creek dam which had the world’s first concrete stepped spillway.
The Hazelwood Estate, Highgate Hill 1885
In the 1880s, the large original properties on Highgate Hill started to be broken up for suburban housing.
James Allen, Brisbane Retail Pioneer
James Allen was cofounder of the Allen and Stark company, later taken over by Myers. He and his wife built the beautiful ‘Wairuna’ on Hampstead Road.
Glenview – A Highgate Hill House circa 1883
If you’re lucky, a search through Trove digitised newspapers can reveal much about a house’s history, especially in the period when houses were known by their names. Here's what I found out about our house.
Rat Causes Fire on Highgate Hill 1887
The use of lamps posed a great risk in wooden houses, sometimes with tragic results.
