Video guide
Part 3: Architectural styles
Set the foundations for house history research success by watching State Library’s series of 5 House Histories video guides. Watch below to find out more about architectural styles.
Webinar
Architectural styles of Queensland homes
Journey through the decades of Queensland architectural styles and discover how to access architectural plans and house plan books in State Library's collection.
Architectural plans and architects
State Library resources
- Search the One Search catalogue by name of architect
- Dods 27671 Hall and Dods Architectural Drawings 1898-1984
- Queensland architects of the 19th century: a biographical dictionary / Donald Watson; Judith McKay ;
- Queensland architects of the 19th century: Index to this biographical dictionary / compiled by Judith Nissen
Fryer Library
- Discover the Fryer Library's original plans and drawings, photographs and records of architects and architectural firms in Queensland
- See the Fryer Library's Special Collections for more details.
Commercial dwelling plans
- Queensland Parliamentary Papers for Annual Reports of Workers Dwelling Scheme or similar
- Websites such as House History include plans released by the State Advances Corporation, Redicut Homes, Campbell Brothers and other house pattern books
State Library resources
- Explore the One Search catalogue: Subject: "Architecture, Domestic – Designs and Plans"
Brisbane City Archives
- Queensland Houses (includes plans)
Builders
Brisbane City Council Archives Building Registers: alphabetical by street – gives name of owners, and whether Worker’s Dwelling or State Advances Corporation was involved. Sometimes gives builder’s name. Annotations show if it is a new building or an addition.
- Building Application Records March 1904 - October 1925: inner city, north of the river only (original Brisbane Council area)
- Building Application Register Indexes October 1925 - 1943
- Building Application Registers without indexes 1925 - 1945
Note:
- Registers are missing for the years: 1939 (index only) and there are no extant records for the period September 1934-January 1936 and April-December 1937.
- Entries are handwritten, chronological by address with owner’s name, cost, type of building and name of architect if any.
- The landowner’s name is needed to confirm it’s the right building. See BCC online guidance at site
- The date in the register records is approval date so construction was soon after.
Trove digitised newspapers
- Explore digital newspapers for tenders, house removals, sale of land or house and land
- Search using terms like "tenders", "house removals", by name of owner or by portion number e.g. “525 Red Hill”
- Refine by year and month to find tender advertisement.