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.
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
- Register online to request items
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.
- Register of Building Records – online 1903 – 1925: inner city, north of the river only (original Brisbane Council area)
- Building records 1903-September 1925
- Building Registers October 1925-1945
- Building Register Indexes October 1925-1943
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.