The iconic Queensland home is slowly becoming less and less spotted amongst the high rises that fill the urban landscapes around the Brisbane. In this post, we talk about the Queenslander, discussing briefly its history and things to look for if you want a home that’s truly a ‘Queenslander’.

What is a Queenslander House?

The Queenslander house is a classic piece of Australian architectural design. In Queensland, timber and iron houses emerged in the mid-19th century as a response by European migrants to the new subtropical climate. Wide verandas provided relief from the lengthy, hot summer days, punctuated by heavy afternoon downpours of rain. John Freeland, a former professor of architecture at UNSW describes the Queenslander as: the closest Australia ever came to producing an indigenous style.

There is an open and welcoming feel to these houses which is characteristic of the warmer regions of Australia. They reflect a lifestyle which is a unique expression of the way people have adapted themselves to an environment vastly different from their historic European experience.

The classic Queenslander is typically a single detached house made of timber and iron, and located on a separate block of land. The floor plan consists of four or six rooms, which branch off a centrally located corridor, and which are adorned by external shading verandas. Queenslanders are ideally located on the peaks of hills, which allow for both views and cooling ventilation. They are purposefully designed at a human scale and to provide a sense of place in the Queensland context.

Decorative Features

The unique decorative features on the Queenslander are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also functional. These include cast iron or timber balustrades, gables and column brackets, and timber screens, louvres, fretwork and battens. Battened screening and coloured glass provides privacy for occupants, while simultaneously directing breeze movement and/or reducing solar radiation which is now fitting with the current trend of an eco-conscious home.

Typical characteristics of a Queenslander house:

• Built before 1946 (often referred to as pre-war)
• Timber framed from local hardwood
• External walls clad in weatherboards or later chamfer boards
• Corrugated iron roof sheet
• Raised up from the ground sitting on large timber stumps or posts
• Use of verandahs to at least one if not three sides
• Typically symmetrical in plan with a central corridor
• Panelled doors with fanlights or breezeways above
• Windows are timber framed either double hung or casements

Queenslanders are also known for their steeply pitched corrugated metal roofs which are lightweight, durable and fire-resistant, and allow for high ceiling to cool below.

The case of missing Queenslanders

"Looking out across the city views," Magnus Eriksson, a housing historian who tracks the histories of houses across southeast Queensland, says "Queenslanders are among the most threatened on the list for housing, nearing extinction."

There are a few replicas popping up, but the style seems to be falling out of fashion. Only a few replicas are built in the true form, but there are buyers who are prepared to pay a premium for a good quality replica with all the charm of an original, but without the upkeep.

Australian Institute of Architects’ Queensland executive director Melissa Greenall said the industry had noticed a decline in demand for the Queenslander as a preferred newbuild style. With the cost of building in the state climbing at the fastest rate in Australia, building, renovating and maintaining an original Queenslander home has also become more expensive, however there is hope for this traditional style of home...as Queenslanders we have extensive experience with them and we're here to help you.

Considering renovating an old Queenslander or building Queenslander-inspired home? Talk to us about your roofing options.