GSA Guide - Brisbane Servants Home / School of Arts Claimed
URPoint Details
This URP is provided and maintained by members of the Geological Society of Australia as a geo-located community knowledge service.
The School of Arts was Brisbane’s first institution established to cater for the cultural needs of the developing colony. It had its beginnings in 1849 when meetings were held in the North Brisbane Court House.
Brisbane's first colonial performance venue, the School of Arts, was never referred to as a theatre even in its day.
History:
The Brisbane Servants' Home, as this building in Ann Street was originally called, was established by Lady Bowen and a group of private citizens in 1865. It provided a home for single adult females who had migrated to Queensland and were awaiting employment as domestic servants.
The building was purchased by the Brisbane School of Arts in 1873 for A£1,000, and established as headquarters in 1878, not before Richard Gailey had renovated the building to make it suitable for its new use. The main noticeable feature of these renovations was the addition of a surrounding verandah. The building was again modified around 1935 to include a technical college as well as some shops to provide an income. In this modification Gailey's lower level verandahs were removed as pictured in 1937.
Ownership of the building passed to the Brisbane City
- Type:
- Landmark