A local Brisbane family has purchased Dovercourt, a large Victorian home at 124 Sherwood Road, Toowong for an undisclosed price from the Bigge family, who have owned the property for the last 90 years.
Dovercourt is a beautiful 1864 William Henry Elleker designed large Victorian home on 7,036sq m of land at 124 Sherwood Rd Toowong, one of the first grand acreage residences in Toowong. The character of Dovercourt has been described as one of a grand yet charming Victorian Period house, in an Arcadian setting.
It was the talk of the town at the time with its new age dumbwaiter and enormous bi-fold doors dividing the lounge and dining room.
The residence boasts a rich history dating back to 1863 when English architect William Henry Ellerker arrived in Brisbane from Melbourne. He had been engaged in private practice in Victoria for three years, and on moving to Brisbane he was employed by the Colonial Architect's Office as a temporary draftsman.
By 1864 he had set up a private practice in Brisbane, and in that same year purchased an eight-acre allotment of land at Toowong on which he erected 'Dover Court Cottage' to his own design.
During his time in Brisbane, Ellerker was also responsible for the design of a number of commercial properties in Queen Street, a villa for Francis Gregory on North Quay, and James Gibbon's Teneriffe House. His entry in the competition for the design of the Queensland Parliamentary buildings was actually selected by the judges, but Parliament requested scrutiny by another architect and after some objections Ellerker's design was abandoned.
In 1865 Ellerker was heavily involved in the first St Thomas' Church of England, designing the church and also making a large donation towards its construction.
Dovercourt was sold in 1868 to accountant Walter H Snelling. Solicitor and local identity W H Miskin was a tenant for many years, finally purchasing the property in 1887. By the 1890s, the property was in use as a residence for the boarders of Mr Mark's School before the Bigge family took ownership and converted the property into a family home for a number of generations.
Robert Dunne and Will Carman of Savills Australia negotiated the sale on behalf of the Bigge family and said the public interest in this property was substantial with eight strong offers.
The new owners are looking forward to raising another generation at Dovercourt and said, “When we discovered the trapdoor to the hidden cellar below the original kitchen then we knew had to have this home.”
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