Rosewood History ©

Rosewood Police Station, 1981 (previously the Court House)
Photo: Kathryn Rodgers Src: Picture Ipswich

HISTORIC PLACES

The Queensland Heritage Register – Rosewood

Glendalough – 96 John Street, Rosewood   (Heritage Register 21 October, 1992)

Rosewood Police Complex – 1 John Street, Rosewood  (Heritage Register 6 June, 1994)

St Brigid’s Catholic Church – 28 Matthew Street, Rosewood  (Heritage Register  21 October, 1992)

Tallegalla State School – Rosewood Minden Road, Tallegalla  (Heritage Register 2 February, 1998)

Grandchester Sawmills – Symes Street, Grandchester (Heritage Register  21 October, 1992)

Grandchester Railway Complex – Ipswich Road, Grandchester (Heritage Register 21 October, 1992)

Franklyn Vale Homestead- Franklin Vale Road, Grandchester (Heritage Register 21 October, 1992)

St Patrick’s Church and Graveyard-Rosewood – Aratula Road, Rosevale (Heritage Register 11 December 2009)

Rosewood Scrub Historical Society Building – 73 Edmond Street, Marburg (Heritage Register 21 October 1992)

Marburg State School-Louisa Street, Marburg (Heritage Register 9 October 2015)

Woodlands – Seminary Road, Marburg (Heritage Register 21 October 1992)

Marburg Community Centre and First World War Memorial – 71 Edmond Street, Marburg (Heritage Register 21 October 1992)

Marburg Hotel – Edmond Street, Marburg (Heritage Register 21 October 1992)

Ipswich Planning Scheme – SCHEDULE 2 – CHARACTER PLACES   Part 1—Historic and Miscellaneous Places

“Glendalough” – 96 John Street, Rosewood

Glendalough was one of the grandest houses in Rosewood. It was the home of Thomas Ernest Bulcock. In 1908 he moved to Rosewood from Brisbane and bought a working business from Mr. F. S. Lound. 

Thomas married his wife Edith in June 1910 and in December he acquired a residential site of just over 1.25 acres (0.51 ha) in John Street for their home. On the site sat a simple five roomed cottage. Over a period of time Thomas commissioned elaborate extensions which made the home stand out distinctively from its neighbours. It reflected the most modern design of the time and became a handsome, eight bedroom, bow-windowed villa adorned with hooded sash windows, decorative eaved gables, cast iron balustrades and a gabled portico over a winged staircase at the front. Pressed metal ceilings, cedar joinery and fretwork featured inside. A billiard room and an octagonal summer sleeping room lit by bay windows on all sides were added. Around it extensive flower gardens adorned with statues were established. 

In this perfect picturesque setting, the Bulcocks hosted numerous social occasions. 

In late 1923, H. M. A. Grant. (Butcher) bought the home and changed the name to Alvie. The name was reverted back to Glendalough after the Grants left. The Chalk family lived there in the 1940’s after which the Edwards (Newsagent) family bought the house. Later it was owned by the Rieck and McAlpine families.

Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 – 1954), Monday 25 April 1938, page 5
GARDEN PARTY. 300 AT ROSEWOOD GATHERING. £60 FOR BUSH HEALTH SCHEME. ROSEWOOD, April 24.
Almost 300 patrons attended the fete held in the beautiful grounds at “Alvie,” the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. M. A. Grant, at Rosewood, yesterday afternoon, to assist the Southern District stall at Government House party for the Bush Children’s Health Scheme and Red Cross peace activities. The fete was held in a beautiful setting, and the worthy object of the function made an appeal to which the public grandly responded. The beauty of the garden, with its roses in bloom, cypress pine trees, palms, and green lawns, was enhanced by gay decorations of coloured streamers, flags, and Japanese umbrellas, and the brightly-decorated stalls provided an attractive frontage. Poinsettia formed the background for the sweets stall. 

The fete was opened by Mrs. E. B. Maher, one of the conveners of the Southern District stall. 

Officials of the Social Committee assisting the Southern District stall are: Mrs. A. J. Loveday (President), Mrs. W. McGeary (Secretary), and Mr. H. M. A. Grant (Treasurer). 

Cr. A. J. Loveday (Chairman of the Rosewood Shire Council) introduced Mrs. Maher, and welcomed the people. On behalf of the Ladies’ Committee, Cr. Loveday expressed thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Grant for giving their home for the function. 

Mrs. Maher was smartly frocked in black flat crepe, featuring Chinese forms in quilted design. Her frock was relieved with a green sash, and she added a high-fronted black toque. Mrs. Grant wore a frock of navy American sheer patterned in white, and a navy hat. Miss Jean Grant, who assisted her mother in the arrangements, wore a shady white hat with her frock of Continental crepe, featuring blue flowers on a white ground. 

OBJECTS OF THE STALL.
Mrs. Maher explained the objects of the Southern District stall, of which Mrs. Webb and she are conveners. They were all pleased, she said, to help in work for the benefit of sick children; and to try to make such lives happier. The Red Cross peace activities were important, as they helped in times of drought and bush fires, national disasters, and epidemics. 

On behalf of the Southern District stall Mrs. Maher thanked Mr. and Mrs. Grant for giving their home for the fete, and expressed appreciation of Mrs. Grant’s work in connection with the function. Mrs. Maher thanked Mrs. Loveday (President of the local committee), the committee, and all the people who had in any way helped. In securing the success of the function. These included the maypole girls and their teacher (Miss Cannan). The sucecss of the function would not have been possible only for the organisation put into it and the enthusiasm and unity of the committee. Mrs. Maher expressed appreciation of the splendid co-operation the Rosewood people had given the committee. It had been a help to the organisers to know that the people were behind them. She commented upon the attractions of the stalls, and paid a tribute to the ladies for their work. 

Mrs. Maher was presented with a bouquet of red roses tied with streamers of the same shade, and Mrs. T. Crawford, who accompanied her, received a bouquet of golden-shaded gerberas. Daphne and Heather McGeary made the offerings. The former made a gift of sweets from the Social Committee to Miss K. Cannan who had trained the maypole girls. 

Accompanying Mrs. Maher were Mr. E. B. Maher, M.L.A., Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Webb, and Misses Webb (two), Mesdames T. Crawford, Fox, Nicholson, A. W. Fadden, Thornber, Misses Crawford and E. Crowe, of Brisbane. 

Thirty-six small girls in long, frilly frocks of rainbow shades gave two displays of the maypole dance undee the direction of Miss Cannan. Miss F. Bradley was pianiste. Small white afternoon tea tables dotted the side lawn, and social chats were enjoyed by the people in the interval between trading attractions. 

THE STALLHOLDERS.
The stallholders were-Jumble (colours, red and white): Mesdames A. J. Loveday (convener), E. O’Sullivan, N. Coote, J. Potts, and H. Collett.
Cushions and covers (orange and lemon): Miss S. Loveday (convener), Mrs. A. Capern, Misses V. Grant and L. Harding.
Aprons and tea towels (pink and blue): Mrs. E. N. Gainen and Miss M. Madden.
Soft drinks and sweets (wisteria): Mesdames W. McGeary (convener), C. Freeman, D. Elder, Misses C. Harding and J. Must.
Pantry (green and pink): Mesdames S. Edwards (convenor), H. Saull, and R. Wallace.
Wolf house dip (black and red): Misses M. Edwards and A. Harding.
Handkerchiefs and posies (lemon and blue): Mesdames H. Fraser (convener) and G. McGeary, Misses I. Loveday, G. Freeman, E. Collett.
Refreshments: Mesdames W. Wass, W. Grant, Tribbick, N. Ruhno, A. Lergesner, and G. Grimsey, Misses T. and V. Edwards. I. and S. Hobbs, M. Pocock, and J. Ogg. The girls on the tea stall wore white and green aprons and caps.
Quoits, Mr. C. Smith; “Aunt Sally,” Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Mort; clock golf, Messrs. J. Davis and C. Christie; gatekeeper, Mr. H. Cochrane. 

Mrs. Williams, of Ipswich, was the tea-cup entertainer, and was probably the most popular attraction of the afternoon, her necessitating much “overtime.” 

The clock golf was won by Dr. Wallace and Mrs. Wallace. 

Mr. N. Ruhno disposed of various articles, ranging from baskets of sweets to boxes of poultry, by snowball auction, and bidding was particularly lively. Dr. Wallace secured a cake donated by Mrs. N. Ruhno. Mr. G. Chalk secured the basket of sweets donated by Mrs. Coote, and Mr. Len. Boughen received a pair of roosters donated by Mrs. A. J. Loveday. 

Miss E. Crowe, of Brisbane, won a hand-worked cushion, donated by Miss V. Grant, and Mr. G. Logan won an apron. 

Other trophy winners were: Miss K. Gainen and Mr. C. Hedrick, Mrs. H. Cochrane (cake), Mr. J. M. Bruce (dressing table set), and Mr. C. Dutney (box of sweets). 

A large crowd attended the dance in the Farmers’ Hall at night. Music was supplied by Mesdames H. Fraser, E. Gatnen, S. Trewick (piano), Mrs. T. Quirk (violin), Mr. C. Freeman (cornet), Messrs. J. Wright and A. R. Blake (drums). Mr. W. Hoggett was M.C.. Messrs. W. D. Grant and W. McGeary also assisted. The proceeds of the party amounted to £60, and the takings at the dance are to be added to that. Rosewood’s contribution to the Southern District stall is considered to be the highest to date.

“The Laurels” –  92 John Street, Rosewood.

The home was built to order by Mr. Robert Samuel Hodge, M.L.A., during March and April 1902.

The house, which is of a much more elaborate appearance than any other in the vicinity of Rosewood, is elevated 8ft. from the ground, measures 34ft by 9ft., and contains drawing-room 14ft. by 11ft. 6in., dining-room 17ft. by 13ft. 6in., front bedroom 14ft. by 12ft., two bedrooms 11ft. 6in, by 11ft. and 11ft. 6in. by 9ft., and hall 14ft. by 5ft. A servant’s room, 10ft. by 8ft., and kitchen 12ft. by 12ft., are attached to the main building. The house is provided with two verandahs, the front one having a width of 13ft. and the back 8ft. The  studs are of a fairly good height and are sheeted with 7in. by 1in. hardwood on exposed walls and tongued-and-grooved pine to wall under the verandah. The whole building, including the kitchen, is lined vertically throughout. The rooms are all ceiled and ventilated and finished inside with pine mouding, skirting, corners, &c. Great attention has been paid to the lighting of the rooms, as large windows are provided in every room, the dining-room having double windows in the north side of the building. The drawing-room is additionally supplied, as it has a large bay window in front with two pairs of weighted sashes in front and one on each side of splay. The front bedroom is furnished with basement windows. The front door, French-light, side-lights, corners, and fan-lights, also all inside doors are of pine, and the windows of cedar with 21oz. glass. The side-light corners of fan-lights, margin of eight doors, and top sashes of basement and bay windows are glazed with approved colours in cathedral glass, and all are finished with the requisite mouldings and fastenings. The building has a brick chimney, with basement hearth and two at floor level fitted with registered grate, and marble in the dining-room and stove in the kitchen. The front elevation of the house is ornamented by a facia above the verandah, panelled off and fitted with eave brackets. The gable over the bay window porch to the verandah is neatly exceuted out of cedar bay boards, fret panels, and finials. A cast-iron railing encloses the front verandah. The roof is of corrugated iron, the main roof having a flat with cast-iron cresting. All the exposed windows are protected with sunhades of cedar, with fret-cut panels to correspond with the ends of the verandah. As the building is above the usual height from the ground an elaborate and substantial double set of steps have been designed and erected in front. Two 1000 gallon tanks will be put in position – one at the floor level and one below. The ground floor under the house is to be asphalted, with kerbing secured to stumps. The building was designed by Mr. H. O. Thomas, architect, of Brisbane. The contractors were Messrs. B. and G. Green, of Ipswich, whose names are sufficient guarantee of the quality of the workmanship. The plumbing work was executed by Messrs. Hanby and Dangerfield, of Ipswich, and the joinery by Mr. W. A. Foote, of Ipswich. The painting was done by Mr. H. Grainger, and the cast-iron work was obtained from the Jubilee Foundry, North Ipswich.

In 1907 Robert Hodge sold his business premises, “Rosewood Hotel” and his shops and private dwelling, “The Laurels” to Frederick William Ruhno.

 

© Jane Schy, 2024

Published 07/02/2024