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Then and Now: Waldheim, the Stephen Family’s Homestead in Annerley

Did you know that the heritage-listed Stephen’s Farm homestead on Waldheim St in Annerley was once the home of William Stephens, who helped shape what was then the borough of South Brisbane?

William acquired the property in the late 1880s through his father, Thomas Blacket Stephens, a wealthy businessman who was the sixth Treasurer of Queensland. The older Stephens owned heaps of properties and businesses in Brisbane and the Shire of Stephens was actually named for him.

When he passed away, his son managed his estate and continued the family’s legacy and influence.

Following his marriage to Pauline Anna Caroline Effey in 1900, William built a family house for £300 not far from his father’s old house on Ipswich Road, Annerley. He named the house “Waldheim,” which means “home in the forest” in German.

William Stephens — Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland

South Brisbane William Stephens Waldheim — William Stephens was the first mayor of the South Brisbane borough. Photo Credit: National Library of Australia

Waldheim Through the Years

Waldheim was originally believed to share a double gate to the left of the Junction Park State School and a laneway. Built as a timber structure with a corrugated iron roof, the house had distinct slim posts on the verandah and an elegant, decorative entryway.

The house remained in the Stephens family even after William’s death in 1925 due to a stroke. A few years before William died, however, the Stephen’s Farm homestead was subdivided and put up for sale via public auction.

Stephens Park Annerley — Photo Credit: Annerley-Stephens History Group/Facebook

In 1938, Pauline then sold Waldheim to George Hudleston Hurlstone Hardy, an entomologist and the founder of the Entomological Society of Queensland. After Hardy, Waldheim’s ownership was transferred to the Overseas Missionary Fellowship as the private residence of the State Secretary.

Between the 1950s to the 1970s, the property’s owners changed hands many times until it was turned into The Clansmen Restaurant, a sophisticated venue for many parties and celebrations in Annerley.

Old-time residents in the area, remember The Clansmen Restaurant all too well.

“The Clansmen used to make an amazing dessert called Edinburgh Fog. Whipped cream with Drambuie through it. Yum.”

“The Clansmen was 5 stars! I remember at the Clansmen all the females got a red rose in their menu and no prices, the males got no roses but got prices.”

“What a great night out at the Clansmen, known for its extensive wine cellar under the dining rooms.”

Waldheim in the Present

Today, the restaurant is gone and Waldheim is now a childcare centre called Little Ducks.

Little Ducks Annerley — Photo Credit: Little Ducks Childcare Annerley

According to realestate.com.au, Waldheim last went up the market for $1,200,000 in 2004. It was previously valued at just $200,000 in 2001.

Published 10 January 2023

Our Lady’s College, Annerley To Start Teaching Auslan In 2023

Our Lady’s College at Annerley will start offering Auslan or the Australian Sign Language in 2023, making it the first Catholic high school in Brisbane to do so.

Read: Then and Now: Waldheim, the Stephen Family’s Homestead in Annerley

In a social media post, Our Lady’s College announced that they will begin teaching Auslan as an ACARA (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority) accredited course to Year 7 and 8 students starting this year.

The Catholic girls’ school, located at Chester Road, will also become the first school under Brisbane Catholic Education to teach the subject.

To do so, the school has already employed a teacher who will be co-teaching with Mrs Joanna Caldwell, their expert languages teacher.

“This was a carefully considered curriculum addition to support our already very inclusive and culturally rich school, but Auslan also offers a great career pathway for young women,” said Ms Andree Rice, principal at Our Lady’s College, Annerley.

The community at Our Lady’s College, Annerley believes it’s a wonderful initiative, with some hoping it would lead the way to the introduction of Auslan as a future language option in schools nationwide.

According to the Department of Education, nine schools in Queensland were offered Auslan as a LOTE (Languages Other Than English) subject back in 2020, with around 700 schools taking the subject. The numbers doubled in 2021, with 14 state schools teaching Auslan and 1,400 students taking it.

Some of the contributors to the increased interest in Auslan include the bushfires and the introduction of Covid-19 press briefings using the said language. In fact, many interpreters, including Mikey Webb, have become a regular feature at press conferences.

Read: Annerley: From Bush to Dairy Farm to Residential Suburb

“The pandemic and the bushfires have brought the issue of access to emergency information in Auslan back in front of mind and we have recently seen significant progress on access for Deaf Seniors,” said Brett Casey, CEO Deaf Services and the Deaf Society.

Confusing Annerley Road Sign to Be Rectified After 2 Years

Did you know that a confusing road sign, indicating that Mt Gravatt is to the west instead of southeast of Annerley from that point, has been standing on a roundabout along Ekibin Rd for more than two years? Traffic reporter Olympia Kwitowski recently posted a tweet about it.

Ms Kwitowski said in an interview that she regularly sees this Annerley road sign because she has lived all her life near the Jessica Andrews park on Ekibin Rd. She pointed out the mistake, which indicated that Mt Gravatt is to the west instead of southeast of Annerley.

After sharing the sign on Twitter, Ms Kwitowski received feedback that most of the locals haven’t really paid attention to the mistake. Some netizens said they’ve never noticed the wrong arrow pointing to Mt Gravatt despite using the road frequently.

However, those who did notice the mistake said that it has been that way for more than two years.

Ms Kwitowski’s tweet caught the attention of Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey who tagged Brisbane City Council to look into fixing the confusing sign.

Hey @brisbanecityqld… Mt Gravatt is south-east of the Ekibin Rd Annerley roundabout, not west… can someone rectify as quickly as possible so Santa doesn’t get lost?? 🎅🎄

Thanking you! Mt Gravatt kids thank you for fixing 👧 👦 🧒 https://t.co/yclje9YQ8S
— Mark Bailey MP (@MarkBaileyMP) December 19, 2022

Council’s Twitter account replied to Mr Bailey and said that work on the sign could be “possible within 20 working days.”

Proposed Changes to New Bus Network Impact Dutton Park State School, Other Schools

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / brisbane.qld.gov.au

As public consultation draws to a close, find out how the proposed changes to the existing bus services will affect Dutton Park State School and some other schools, once the new Brisbane Metro becomes operational in late 2024.

Council recently released Brisbane’s New Bus Network which will introduce two new fully electric, high-capacity Brisbane Metro lines into the network. The two new lines will connect 18 stations along dedicated busways from Eight Mile Plains to Roma Street, and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital to The University of Queensland.

Several routes are proposed to be realigned to connect to a metro or other high-frequency busway service including Routes 105,110,112,113,115, 135,155,161,170,172, 202 and 203.

Route 202 will be redesigned to operate between Carindale Shopping Centre station and PA Hospital (Cornwall Street) with the new route path connecting the service to M1 at Buranda busway station. Customers may transfer from Route 202 to Route 116 – Salisbury to City nearby on Annerley Road to access Dutton Park and South Brisbane.

Route 112, meanwhile, will be redesigned to operate between Griffith University station, Griffith University Mt Gravatt campus and Greenslopes station. It’s proposed for Route 112 to incorporate trips previously serviced by Route 114 – Holland Park West to City.

This merging would mean that the inbound route to the city will have Route 112 connecting to M1 at Greenslopes station whilst outbound from the city will have customers transferring from M1 to Route 112 at Greenslopes station.

Dutton Park State School, Block B, north elevation, 2018 | Photo Credit: Heritage branch staff, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Concerns were raised about the proposed redesigning of several routes and how it would impact the travel time and safety of students from Somerville House, St Laurence’s College, Dutton Park State School and Brisbane South State Secondary College.

Web-based community support group for rail and public transport, RAIL – Back On Track, however, welcome the opening of the Brisbane City Council Bus Network review, noting that “changes to a bus network need careful informed management.”

On the concerns raised by the impacted schools about the proposed changes and realignments, RAIL – Back On Track said that Brisbane Metro Line 2 (RBWH-UQ Lakes) will serve all of the schools mentioned.

“The new Brisbane Metro bus service will be far more frequent and direct than the low-frequency coverage routes proposed for change,” the Group said.

“For example:

Somerville House is within walking distance of South Bank train and busway stations (400 m). As such, it will have access to Brisbane Metro Lines 1 & 2 when it opens.
St Laurence’s College is within walking distance of Mater Hill busway station (~ 400 m). As such, it will have access to Brisbane Metro Lines 1 & 2 when it opens.
Dutton Park State Primary School is adjacent to Park Road Railway station and Boggo Road busway station (~ 300 m). It has access to a safe pedestrian walkway that connects both these stations. It will also have access to Cross River Rail and Brisbane Metro Line 2 when they open.
Brisbane South State Secondary College has direct access to BUZ 196 and 192 (~ 180 m), and will have access to Brisbane Metro Line 2 from the busway stop inside Dutton Park Parklands (~ 260 m). The crossings are traffic-light controlled.

“Generally, schools generate public transport demand that is limited to a narrow window before school starts and after school finishes. As such, school demand alone cannot support a bus route that operates well outside of bell times, or when schools are closed (e.g. evening and weekends). All of the schools mentioned will be within walking distance of Brisbane Metro Line 2 when it opens.”

Cr Ryan Murphy, on the other hand, said that Council will continue consultations with the impacted schools noting the importance of the proposed changes in easing current congestion in the network during peak times and preventing potential problems in the future as the population is expected to grow by 25 per cent by 2041.

John Soden, The Man Behind the Horse-drawn Omnibuses of Annerley

Did you know that for over four decades, before there were rail services and buses in the city, people in Annerley relied on horse-drawn omnibuses? Get to know John Soden, one of the well-known omnibus operators in the 19th-century, servicing Annerley and surrounds.

Read: Message in a Bottle Found at Junction Park State School Finds Its Way Home After 86 Years

Russell Matthews and Matthews Real Estate

Who Was John Soden?

John Soden was born in the town of Bedworth in Warwickshire, England on 26 March 1837. He started working as a ribbon weaver at the age of 12.

In the same town, he met Mary Harrisson, who would later become his wife. Interestingly, the two were born only two days apart, since Mary was born on 28 March 1837. Like John, Mary worked at an early age, helping her mother in ribbon weaving.

John Soden and Mary Harrisson — Mary Harrisson and John Soden (Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland)

In 1864, after eight years together, they migrated to Brisbane and tried dairy farming in Coopers Plains. However, they did not find luck in dairy farming, after all their cows died from an unknown disease.

The Sodens later ventured into mail delivery services in a pub they purchased along Ipswich Road. It was called Hardcastle’s Hotel, now the site opposite Chardon’s Hotel.

The Soden family were among the early settlers of Ipswich Rd and owned a large colonial home in the area.

Soden Family residence — Soden family’s residence, circa 1895 (Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland)

The mail delivery service was between Brisbane and Rocky Water Holes (now Rocklea) but locals who knew about his services requested for a regular public run.

His routes included Highgate Hill, Boggo Road (Annerley Rd), Rocklea and Mt. Pleasant (Holland Park).

John Soden — Soden (Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland)

Soden’s business quickly grew and it became very successful, that in just a year, he already had 25 buses running. All of their children were involved in the business.

At the peak of the business, the Sodens had over 300 horses and 22 buses running from Ipswich Rd, which was considered as one of the busy routes for omnibuses at the time. In the 1880s, Soden’s business was the second largest omnibus company in Brisbane.

The Decline of Omnibus Lines

Soden's coachworks in Annerley — Soden’s coachworks in Annerley circa 1912 (Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland)

The need for horse-drawn buses saw a sudden decrease when electric trams were introduced in Brisbane in 1897.

Around this time, a number of omnibus lines closed down and homes near tram routes became more sought after. The first motor omnibus was invented in 1910, leaving horse-drawn buses out-of-date.

Read: Annerley-Born Resident at Carinity Clifford House Turns 100 Years Old

The Soden family gave up the buses and moved into the carrying business and coach works.

Soden, who was known for his keen interest in local government matters, was also elected as a Stephens Shire councillor, a position he held for 14 years.

John Soden died in 1921 at the age of 84. He was survived by Mary and their seven children–six sons and one daughter.

Yeronga Grandmother, Other Mater Volunteers Recognised

A grandmother from Yeronga was recognised by Mater Mother’s Hospital for being their longest-serving volunteer, clocking more than 6,000 hours of service to provide comfort to some of the state’s tiniest babies born at the hospital.

Jenny Summerson, has been a volunteer at Mater Mothers’ Hospital for the last 30 years.

Mrs Summerson said she “found her calling” after spotting an advertisement in a local newspaper asking for ‘100 helping hands’ at Mater, and has never looked back.

Jenny Summerson the longest-serving volunteer at Mater Hospital Brisbane | Photo Credit: supplied

“At the time I really hated Mondays. It was like Mondayitis every week. Since becoming a volunteer, I have never felt that way about Mondays again,” Mrs Summerson laughed.

“I love helping people and being an extra pair of hands. Being able to assist families and their newborns is enjoyable, as well as interacting with medical staff.

“Sometimes I assist with babies who aren’t quite well enough to go home yet. I like giving them cuddles when their parents need a short break.”

Also recognised at the awards ceremony were Joint Mater Volunteers of the Year Brian and Barbara Daley; Mike and Mary Cardillo; and Susan Phillips, who crochets beanies for patients and babies. More than 25 volunteers received recognition for their collective contribution of almost 100,000 hours of service to the hospital over the last three decades.

Mater volunteer Susan Phillips — Susan Phillips | Photo Credit: supplied

Mrs Phillips has clocked more than 4000 hours of service at Mater, talking and engaging with patients, and making them feel comfortable. She was inspired to do volunteer work after experiencing a “near-death experience” so she can give back to the hospital that saved her life.

Mater volunteer Valerie Portley — Valerie Portley | Photo Credit: supplied

Meanwhile, Upper Mount Gravatt’s Valerie Portley is a theatre assistant at Mater Private Children’s Hospital since 2004 and was recognised for her more than 4,300 hours of volunteer work. The 76-year-old welcomes parents and children who are often nervous about coming to the hospital and enjoys making them feel at ease.

Mater Volunteer Services senior manager Judy Johnson expressed gratitude for the gift of time and empathy that these volunteers selflessly gave.

“Volunteers make a profound impact on the care and services that Mater provides to the community,” Ms Johnson said.

“Quite simply, Mater just wouldn’t be Mater without our volunteers,” she added.

Mater is calling on members of the community to consider volunteering and joining the South Brisbane team.

Plant Empire Christmas Market at Yeerongpilly Returns

Photo credit: Facebook / Plant Empire

Plant Empire Christmas Market will return to Yeerongpilly to ring in the bells this festive season, because Christmas time is for plant lovers too! But it won’t be just plants that will be on offer here as there will also be pots, fashion, art and so much more.

Plant Empire Christmas Market at Yeerongpilly Returns — *Photo credit: Facebook / Plant Empire*

On 4 December, the annual Plant Empire Christmas Market will return for another round of epic shopping. Shoppers will get to browse around 70 stalls which will offer a range of plants, pots, ceramics, art, fashion, jewellery, coffee, food and so much more in the Yeerongpilly Station Road Creative Precinct.

Moreover, local band Folk n’ Broken Hearted will provide live music to keep everyone entertained during this four-hour event.

Note: Plant Empire Christmas Market is a free-entry event. Free parking is also available at the site. Enter the market around Plant Empire at 3/281 Station Road, Yeerongpilly.

About Plant Empire

Plant Empire hosts regular exhibitions, workshops and concerts. The site also has two warehouses available for hire for private events.

Moreover, Plant Empire Market hosts three-monthly markets on the first weekend of each season. Interested new stallholders, as well as artists and creatives who may also be able to provide music, entertainment and interactive displays, are welcome to apply.

Market stalls cost for a 2 square metre space (2×1 metres) indoors or $70 for a 9 square metre space (3×3 metres) outdoors, plus optional insurance cover for a limited number of stalls under our market insurance policy for a $20 fee.

Click here for application details.

You may also email them at team@plantempire.com.au if you are planning an event at Plant Empire.

So save the date! Plant Empire Christmas Market happens on Sunday 4 December 2022 on Station Road in Yeerongpilly. The event starts at 9 am and will last until 1 pm.

281 Station Rd, Yeerongpilly QLD 4105, Australia

Send In Your Suggestions for Naming the new Boggo Road Bridge

Photo Credit: Cross River Rail/Boggo Road Construction

Do you have a brilliant name suggestion for the new Boggo Road Bridge? The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority would like to hear all about it!

The new Boggo Road Bridge is a pedestrian and cycling bridge that will become an “iconic part of the local landscape,” according to Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey. Thus, it needs a good name recall.

“It is only fitting that the community is invited to contribute ideas to name the bridge, which will be a standout piece of infrastructure that crosses over the rail lines to connect communities,” Mr Bailey added.

“The bridge could be named after someone local, who has themselves helped to better connect the community; someone linked to health, science or education; or even a name that honours local First Nations culture.”

Interested locals may send in their naming suggestions online or download the electronic submission form to be emailed to info@crossriverrail.qld.gov.au on or before 11 November 2022.

Photo Credit: Cross River Rail/Boggo Road Bridge

After the submission period, a panel from various parts of the local community will review all of the suggestions and make the final pick.

Construction of the new Boggo Road Bridge is set to begin soon as excavation and piling works are already ongoing.

“So far, about 33 of 46 piles have been installed to create the foundation for the bridge, which reach up to 30 metres below ground,” Mr Bailey said.

“Next we’ll start to see concreting works and installation of reinforced steel and formwork, to be followed by girders being installed by an 800-tonne-capacity crane, and finally the bridge deck being constructed within 2023.”

Active Travel For Annerley Launches Campaign For Safe, Separated Cycling Lanes On Annerley Rd

Community group Active Travel for Annerley has launched a grassroots campaign calling for safe and separated bike lanes across Annerley Road, between Gladstone Rd and Ipswich Rd.

Read: State-of-the-art Changes and Revised Blueprint for SEQ Rail Network Unveiled

At present, only some sections of Annerley Rd have separated cycling lanes and cyclists are forced to use the road or the footpath between Gladstone Rd and Ipswich Rd, leaving them in danger navigating high-speed traffic and parked cars.

In an open letter published by the group in September 2022, Active Travel for Annerley highlighted the need for safe, separated bike and scooter lanes on these roads and lowering the speed limit from 60 to 50 or 40km/hr, which would be consistent with the new 50km/hr speed limit on Ipswich Rd.

Photo credit: Active Travel for Annerley/Facebook

The group’s campaign for “Annerley Road Safety Upgrade” also calls for more safe pedestrian crossings between Young St and Annerley Junction; and fixing the dangerous pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Annerley Rd and Cornwall St near Dutton Park Station.

“We’re campaigning for a community-led design process, so we want Brisbane City Council, with support from the State government, to work with locals to deliver this project,” the group.

The open letter has been signed by 15 local organisations and community leaders, like State and local elected representatives, supporting safe, separated bike and scooter lanes on Annerley Rd.

Signatories also include Parents and Citizens’ associations from schools in the area, including Dutton Park State School, Junction Park State School, Yeronga State School, Yeronga State High School, and Brisbane South State Secondary College.

The community group has confirmed that they are developing a concept design for their proposal and will seek further local input and feedback.

Read: Design Concept for Dutton Park Station Unveiled, Set for a Rebuild with the Cross River Rail Project

To stay updated about the campaign, visit https://activetravel4annerley.wordpress.com/.

Hon Digby Denham: The Man Who Named Annerley

From a grain merchant to the 18th Premier ofQLD. He refused a knighthood. His family refused a state funeral. Get to know Digby Denham, the man who named Annerley.

Boggo Junction. Ekibin. Richmond. Ipswich Road. These are just some of the names by which the area we now know as ‘Annerley’ has been known over the years. It got so confusing that Hon Digby Denham, who led the Stephens Division Board and went on to become the 18th Premier of QLD, finally decided to name the district “Annerley,” after a township in Surrey, England.

Who is Digby Denham?

Mr Digby Denham from Somerset, England arrived in South Australia in 1881 and went into business with John Melliday & Co. as a produce and grain merchant. He owned the first house built in Annerley when he expanded the business to Brisbane in 1886.

ANNERLEY INGLESIDE — Ingleside in Annerley
Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland

Known as Ingleside, the house along 391 Annerley Road, located in a prominent and elevated area, was where Mr Denham and his wife, Alice Maud, raised their three children. He lived in this home until his death in 1944.

Hon Digby Denham
Photo Credit: Australian War Memorial

Life in Public Service

Mr Denham became a well-known businessman in Brisbane and started other money-making ventures with companies in Rockhampton, Clifton, and Warwick.

In 1893, he became a member of the Stephens Divisional Board which functions as the local government to provide public services. Mr Denham chaired this board for four years and then he was elected into the Legislative Assembly in 1902.

He heavily opposed the state income tax proposed by then-Premier Sir Robert Philp. Yet when Mr Denham became the premier from 1911 to 1915, his views on taxes changed and believed they should be higher.

Photo Credit: National Library of Australia

As a public servant, Mr Denham also served as the minister for agriculture, public works, railways, and for public lands at various times in his career. He was the home secretary under the Philp administration and succeeded William Kidston as the premier.

Mr Denham’s major work was the 1910 Land Act which streamlined the legislation of the past 50 years to lessen the confusion. He refused a knighthood in 1913 and his family also refused a state funeral when he passed away. Instead, the Denhams held a private memorial at their family home in Annerley.

Digby Denham's Obituary — Photo Credit: National Library of Australia

The House of Digby Denham Today

After Denham’s term, Annerley, formerly farmland, experienced a property boom that saw many housing developments in the suburb.

Annerley Development — Annerley in the 1920s
Photo Credit: State Library of Queensland

Meanwhile, Ingleside became the home of other families over the years. It went up for sale in 2018 for $1,325,00. Its former owners, Don and Lesley Berkman, lived in the house for nearly three decades.

But after Don passed away, his daughter, Kathryn Berkman, said that the family decided to sell the heritage-listed house where they made many happy memories. The Berkmans took great care of the property and only made renovations to the lower level, with the modern kitchen.

Ingleside, however, still retains much of its original features, including the L-shaped verandah, the antique fireplace, and the high ceilings.