School of Arts Estate, Bulimba, 1923 (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.

School of Arts Estate: at the Bulimba 5 ways, 1923. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland

This real estate map from 1923 advertises 76 allotments of land for sale at the School of Arts Estate in the Brisbane suburb of Bulimba. The allotments were situated along Oxford Street, Jamieson Street, Cambridge Street and Hawthorne Road.

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

Advertisement published in The Telegragh, November 19, 1923

"It would be hard to find a finer spot for a business or residential site than the School of Arts Estate, right at the Bulimba 5 ways. Here you have, within 2 miles of the GPO, and served by 3 ferry services, Morningside Railway and Motor Bus, the very pick of suburban building sites. Seventy-six splendid green lawn allotments with water and electric light adjacent, ready for you to build just as your heart dictates." (The Telegraph, November 19, 1923)

A public auction was held at the site on the afternoon of November 24, 1923. The Brisbane Courier newspaper reported the results of the sale –

"Mr B.F. Canniffe reports a successful sale of the School of Arts Estate, Bulimba Fiveways, on Saturday. Corner allotments sold up to £94 , and others realised in the vicinity of £50 . The few remaining allotments are being eagerly inquired for since the sale. The prices realised prove that investors have every confidence in the future of Bulimba." (Brisbane Courier, November 27, 1923)

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