Ivy Estate, Toowong, Brisbane, 1884 (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.

Ivy Estate, Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland, 1884. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland

This Brisbane real estate map from 1884 is advertising over 170 allotments of land for sale at the Ivy Estate in the suburb of Toowong. The sale also includes an existing house, Ivy Lodge, the residence of former politician Henry Edward King.

Henry Edwards King (1832 -1910). John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 156898

The allotments for sale are situated along Bent Street, Soudan Street, Orchard Street, Lodge Street, Ivy Street, Mount Street, Peel Street (which appears to no longer exist) and parts of three unnamed roads (present day Vera Street, Elizabeth Street and Dean Street).

Newspaper advertisements for the sale describe the features of the estate and as well as the layout of Ivy Lodge...

"The house contains seven rooms, all nicely finished, airy, and fair-sized apartments, being conveniently arranged so as to secure comfort, and having at the rear a good kitchen and servants' rooms, pantry, storerooms, laundry, sheds, &c. large underground tank, fowls' yards, &c. In front of the house is a beautiful garden planted with many very handsome shrubs, fruit tree, &c..."

Advertisement for Ivy Estate, Toowong. Published in Brisbane Courier, May 26, 1884

A public auction was held at the site on the afternoon of June 7, 1884. The Brisbane Courier newspaper on June 9 published the following report –

“Mr J.Cameron reports a most decided success at the sale of Ivy Estate this (Saturday) afternoon. The company assembled was not a very numerous one, but every man there appeared to be a buyer. Ninety-two lots were sold, being a gross total of 2293. The house (Ivy Lodge), with one acre of land, brought 900. There are eighty lots left, which will be sold privately.”

View of the Toowong Railway Station, 1880. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image 10129-0001-0001

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

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

Myles Sinnamon – Project Coordinator, State Library of Queensland