Cremorne Estate, [Woolloongabba], 1888 (Map of the Week)

State Library of Queensland has an extensive collection of historical maps of Queensland, some of which have been digitised and can be viewed online.

Cremorne Estate, Woolloongabba, 1888. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland

This real estate map from 1888 advertises 70 allotments of land for sale at Cremorne Estate in the Brisbane suburb of Woolloongabba. The allotments were situated along Deshon Street, Railway Street, Leonard Street, Maynard Street and Short Street (now Line Street).

Prior to the sale extensive publicity was published in Brisbane newspapers.

"The Cremorne Estate is so well and favourably known that it is hardly necessary to point out its many advantages and attractions, as all land offered for sale in this popular suburb is eagerly purchased by those desirous of securing choice sites easy of access and close to the city...This valuable block of land, which is the whole of that property situated between Deshon and Norman Estates, has at last been subdivided into Villa Sites, and will be offered for sale..." (The Telegraph, August 29, 1888)

Advertisement, The Telegraph, August 29, 1888

A public auction was held at the site on the afternoon of September 1, 1888. The Brisbane Courier newspaper reported the results of the sale.

"Mr W.J. Hooker reports a sale to-day of allotments in the Cremorne Estate. Twenty allotments were disposed of for a total of £1997, being an average of about £100 each, the highest price realised for any one lot being 125 for a corner lot facing Maynard-street. There was a fair attendance, and the bidding was spirited for the Maynard-street frontages." (Brisbane Courier, September 3, 1888)

A higher resolution image of this map can be viewed through our One Search catalogue.

Prints of this map are also available through the Library Shop.

You can browse a compendium of our previous maps of the week on our blog.

Myles Sinnamon – Project Coordinator, State Library of Queensland