Grassdale Estate 2nd section, [Belmont, Chandler, Gumdale], 1885 (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.

Grassdale Estate, 2nd section, 1885, . John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland

This real estate map from 1885 advertises over 400 allotments of land for sale at the Grassdale Estate, which today is spread across three Brisbane suburbs Belmont, Chandler and Gumdale. The allotments were situated along Grassdale Road, London Road, Boston Road, Old Cleveland Road, Archer Street and four unnamed roads (later called Belmont Road, Stanborough Road, Tilley Road and New Cleveland Road).

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

"The Second Section of the Grassdale Estate, comprising 1000 acres, in blocks of from one to five acres, having a frontage of two miles to the old Cleveland Road. This magnificent property is situated between the old and new Cleveland Roads, and is deserving the attention of the investor, capitalist, farmer, merchant, artizan , and mechanic, and is only one hour's drive from Brisbane, and as it has been decided to run the Cleveland Railway through the Estate, it will be brought within a few minutes' ride of the heart of the city."

Advertisement for Grassdale Estate, November 21, 1885

A public auction was held at the site on the afternoon of November 28, 1885. The Telegraph newspaper reported the results of the sale –

"Mr G.T. Bell reports a satisfactory sale of the Grassdale Estate, on Saturday last. The attendance was large considering the numerous other land sales nearer town, and the bidding fairly spirited. Forty-two lots were disposed of, comprising an area of about 144 acres, at an average of £13 17s per acre; total sale £1,995. The balance of Grassdale will be for private sale at my office for one month." .

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