Researching the history of your house
There are a number of steps you can take that will help you obtain information about your house. You can research the age of your house and the earlier ownership of the property. You can find out how to go about researching the proposed development on the site and lodging an objection to that development.
Determining the date of construction for pre-1946 houses in Brisbane requires some research, as exact building records in this period are incomplete. The City Archives can advise on research methods and holds a number of records that can assist in house research. They also offer reference assistance to customers who visit or phone the Archives.
Below is a link to the City Council Guide to Researching House Histories. The guide includes hyperlinks to relevant resources. For a pre-1946 house a titles search is recommended to determine who owned the land when the dwelling was constructed. The title record may also indicate when a mortgage was first taken out on the land to finance the construction of the dwelling.
Brisbane City Council | Guide to Researching House Histories
The other records held by the City Archives which may be useful in determining the age of a dwelling are the detail plans. The date of these will vary for each suburb depending on when the sewerage surveys were undertaken. These maps can be made available online as per the instructions on the detail plan “room” on the Library catalogue.
You can visit or contact the City Archives for further assistance. Information about the opening hours and location can be found here.
RECORDS OF FREEHOLD OWNERSHIP
Records of freehold ownership of each property can be obtained from the Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying, Land and Spatial Information, Department of Natural Resources and Mines. The Senior Curator of the Museum may be able to guide you through the process. Contact details are Museum@dnrm.qld.gov.au and (07) 3896 3000.
Copies of images of titles deeds for individual properties can be purchased for $18.15 each from the Department’s business centres: https://www.dnrm.qld.gov.au/our-department/contact-us/dnrm-business-centre-contacts. The phone number for the Woolloongabba Business Centre is (07) 3896 3216.
REFERENCES:
Prepared by the Toowong and District Historical Society Inc. with information provided by the BCC Archivist, Brisbane City Council Archives. (05.07.2016)
GRAVES AND TOOWONG CEMETERY
A grave concern for those researching our area is the misconception that all those who lived in Toowong are buried in Toowong Cemetery. This may not necessarily be so – please check with the Brisbane City Council – Grave Location Service to assist you in confirming grave locations for the Brisbane area.
It is also important to note that Toowong has been a General Cemetery for Brisbane and this is where many in Brisbane have found their last resting place.
In deference to Friends of Toowong Cemetery and their sterling work, this society acknowledges that what happens inside the Cemetery gates stays inside the Cemetery gates.
HISTORY RESOURCES FOR RESEARCH
The below links are excellent history resources for those interested in history research:
Research the history of your house
Brisbane City Council
State Library of Queensland | Photo Gallery
https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/research-collections/queensland/built-heritage/house-histories
The House Detective
https://www.housedetective.com.au
House Histories
https://www.househistories.org
Research the history of your family
State Library of Queensland
https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/research-collections/family-history/family-history-research-guides
Queensland Family History Society Inc.
Genealogical Society of Queensland
Australian Cemeteries Index
Brisbane City Council | Grave Location Search
Immigration History
https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/arts/heritage/archives/collection/immigration
History of the western suburbs
Ashgrove Historical Society Inc.
Kenmore and Districts Historical Society
St Lucia History Group
www.brisbanehistorywest.wordpress.com
Paddington Then and Now
https://www.facebook.com/PaddingtonThenandNow/
Friends of Toowong Cemetery
Moggill Historical Society Inc.
Centenary Suburbs Historical Society
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History
https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/research-collections/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-collections
Other useful research links
National Library of Australia
https://www.nla.gov.au/research-guides
National Archives of Australia
The National Trust of Australia
National Library of Australia | Trove
Royal Historical Society of Queensland
History Queensland Incorporated
Queensland State Archives
University of Queensland Library
Brisbane History Group
https://www.brisbanehistorygroup.org.au
Text Queensland ( Queensland’s past online)
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