By Juliano Oliveira
Brisbane’s oldest surviving European home, Newstead House, will get an injection of $5.8 million made by the Queensland Government. The building is 173 years old and it is considered an iconic landmark by the community.
The amount will be allocated to the preservation of the house’s collections, and the former historic electricity substation that is also on its grounds. This funding aims to protect and preserve Newstead House for generations to come.
Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch said the $5.8 million in funding would go towards maintenance, replacing the roof, and repair works associated with drainage, timber, painting and wallpaper, and protecting the collection.
Member for McConnel Grace Grace said Newstead House, which is a house museum and opens for the public to visit, was built as a privately-owned cottage in 1846, and significantly renovated in 1867.
“Newstead House has a collection of nearly 3000 items, is located on the grounds of Newstead Park. Also located on the Park’s grounds is Substation No 5, which was built in the 1920s to help power the city’s tramway system. Newstead House, Newstead Park and the substation were also among the first of the state’s historic places to be entered in the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992.”
The building served as home for Captain John Clements Wickham, a Scottish explorer, naval officer, magistrate and administrator. From 1831 to 1836 he was second in command of the Beagle in the expedition for which Charles Darwin was the naturalist.