To-Me-Ree

To-Me-Ree residence
To-Me-Ree residence
	Residence from Park Street, 2015
Location	7 Macalister Street, West Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates	27°37′21″S152°45′29″E / 27.6226°S 152.7581°E Coordinates: 27°37′21″S152°45′29″E / 27.6226°S 152.7581°E
Design period	1900 - 1914 (early 20th century)
Built	c. 1910
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name	To-Me-Ree
Type	state heritage (landscape, built)
Designated	21 October 1992
Reference no.	600588
Significant period	1900s-1910s (fabric); 1910s-1960s (historical)
Significant components	garden - rock / rockery, gate - entrance, driveway, garden/grounds, gate/s, fence/wall - perimeter, service wing, residential accommodation - main house
	Location of To-Me-Ree residence in Queensland To-Me-Ree (Australia)

Last updated February 26, 2023

To-Me-Ree is a heritage-listed detached house at 7 Macalister Street, West Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It was built c. 1910. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.^[1]

History

The single-storey, Federation brick villa, "To-Me-Ree", is one of four houses George Williams built on the southern side of Denmark Hill around 1910. Williams and his wife lived opposite "To-Me-Ree", at "Almondsbury", a brick house with steeply pitched gables similar in style to "To-Me-Ree". Williams' daughter, Nellie (Mary Ellen), and her husband, Sydney May, lived at "To-Me-Ree".^[1]

The name "To-Me-Ree" stems from May's interest in Aboriginal words and is thought to relate to Port Stephens headland. It is said that May had an extensive collection of Aboriginal artefacts which he displayed in the west room converted from the side verandah. The collection of Artefacts were donated to the Ipswich Art Gallery and are now on display there.^[1]

May moved to Ipswich in 1905 to be organist and choir master at the Ipswich Congregational Church. He also lectured at the University of Queensland's school of music and initiated music summer schools.^[1]

A bush house and rock garden were maintained during the May's time, and their garden was an attraction for city visitors. Sydney May died in 1968, Nellie May died in 1972 and one of their daughters, Barbara, continued living at "To-Me-Ree" until her death in 1980.^[1]

The house is a fine example of the affluent settlement around Denmark Hill which continued from the latter 19th century into the early 20th century. The house is situated amongst grand residences and substantial brick and timber dwellings which give the area a cohesive character^[1]

Description

"To-Me-Ree" stands on the north-west corner of Moffat and Macalister Streets on the southern side of Denmark Hill with extensive southern views. "To-Me-Ree" is a substantial, brick villa with a complex gabled roof-line. Its southern facade has two projecting gables, connected by a verandah which has been enclosed with boarding and coloured glass casement windows. The gables each have round ventilator "windows" and decorative timber pediments and finials. Each of the gables has cream render quoins which contrast with the home's red brick body. One of the gables has a projecting bay window, with its own three-sided roofing. The chimney is made from a decorative combination of red, cream and ash coloured bricks.^[1]

A verandah on the eastern side of the house is supported by timber posts with moulded capitals and elegantly plain, timber brackets and valance. The verandah wraps around to the rear of the house where a pergola extends from the roofline over a large square rockery. The pergola is supported by ornate Italianate pillars on the eastern side. The rockery is bounded at the rear by the driveway which has original decorative iron gates to Macalister Street. Beyond the driveway to the rear of the property is the garden with evidence of a previous structure amongst the established plantings.^[1]

The southern and eastern sides of the property are surrounded by an original low brick wall including an original decorative single iron gate displaying the name "To-Me-Ree" fronting Macalister Street which leads to the front verandah steps.^[1]

The entrance to the interior is via a door on the eastern verandah which is surrounded by coloured, patterned glass (matching the glass on the verandah enclosure facing Moffat Street). The entrance leads into a hall-way, with a central timber arch, which extends to the rear of the house with rooms extending from either side.^[1]

The kitchen is in the south-western corner of the house which still displays one of two central fireplaces. The other fireplace is in a mirrored position in the living room on the opposite side of the wall to the kitchen fireplace. A room on the Western side of the house is an enclosed verandah which leads to the bathroom and laundry in their original positions on the north-west corner of the house.^[1]

Heritage listing

To-Me-Ree was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992 having satisfied the following criteria.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.

To-Me-Ree is important in demonstrating the pattern affluent suburban development around Denmark Hill in Ipswich from the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century.^[1]

The place is important because of its aesthetic significance.

It has high aesthetic value as a Federation brick villa which displays fine building and detailing and is part of a group of four house similar in style but architecturally atypical in the area. It also presents high streetscape value being on a prominent corner block on the southern side of Denmark Hill surrounded by substantial houses of varying ages and design.^[1]

The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.

It has special association with the May family who occupied the house from its construction in 1910 until 1980, in particular Sydney May, a lecturer in music at the University of Queensland, who was an active member of Ipswich society contributing to the musical life of the city.^[1]

Related Research Articles

Clifford House is a heritage-listed club house at 120 Russell Street, Toowoomba, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built c. 1865. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Bardon House is a heritage-listed detached house at 41 The Drive, Bardon, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1864 to 1926. It is also known as Franciscan Sisters' Convent. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Woolloongaba Post Office is a heritage-listed former post office at 765 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Thomas Pye and built in 1905 by Thomas Rees. It is also known as Woolloongabba Post & Telegraph Office. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 January 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weemalla</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Weemalla is a heritage-listed detached house at 62 Ruthven Street, Corinda, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Robin Dods and built from 1908 to 1909 by Hall and Mayer. It is also known as Steele House. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 9 August 2013.

Cremorne is a heritage-listed villa at 34 Mullens Street, Hamilton, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Eaton & Bates and built from 1905 to 1906. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

United Service Club Premises is a heritage-listed club house at 183 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by architect Claude William Chambers and built from 1906 to 1947. It is also known as Montpelier and The Green House. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 April 2000.

Lonsdale House is a heritage-listed detached house at 283 Boundary Street, Spring Hill, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1860s circa to 1950s circa. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 August 1999.

Fernleigh is a heritage-listed cottage at 73 Shore Street East, Cleveland, City of Redland, Queensland, Australia. It was built c. 1860s. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 11 March 1994.

The Wright Family Houses area heritage-listed group of detached houses at 98/100/106 Mt Crosby Road, Tivoli, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It was built from c. 1898 onwards. No. 100 is also known as Oaklands and No. 106 is also known as Wrightlands. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 30 January 2004.

Hotel Metropole is a heritage-listed hotel at 253 Brisbane Street, West Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by George Brockwell Gill and built in 1906. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Aberfoyle is a heritage-listed detached house at 35 Wood Street, Warwick, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by architect Hugh Hamilton Campbell and built from 1910 to c. 1927. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 5 August 1996. It is also listed on the Southern Downs Local Heritage Register.

St Mary's Presbytery is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic presbytery of St Mary's Roman Catholic Church at 142 Palmerin Street, Warwick, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Wallace & Gibson and built from 1885 to 1887 by John McCulloch. It is also known as Father JJ Horan's private residence. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 31 July 2008.

St Michaels Nursing Home is a heritage-listed nursing home at 68 Chermside Road, Newtown, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It was built c. 1874. It is also known as Gwennap. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Toronto is a heritage-listed detached house at 30 Quarry Street, Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1863 onwards. It is also known as Devonshire Cottage. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

St Stephen's Church & Hall is a heritage-listed Presbyterian churchyard at 22 Limestone Street, Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Joseph Backhouse and built from 1865 to 1978. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Penrhyn is a heritage-listed detached house at 103 Limestone Street, Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It was designed and built by John Farrelly c. 1879. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Colthup's House is a heritage-listed detached house at 109 Limestone Street, Ipswich in the City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It was designed and built by John Farrelly c. 1880. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Idavine is a heritage-listed detached house at 2 Burnett Street, West Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It was built c. 1910. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Inverness is a heritage-listed detached house at 58 Fulham Street, Toogoolawah, Somerset Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by John Henry Burley and built in 1917 by D A Menzies. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Killowen is a heritage-listed detached house at 86 Ward Street, The Range, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Eaton & Bates and built from c. 1898 to c. 1920. It is also known as Boland Residence. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "To-Me-Ree (entry 600588)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on "The Queensland heritage register" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 7 July 2014, archived on 8 October 2014). The geo-coordinates were originally computed from the "Queensland heritage register boundaries" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 5 September 2014, archived on 15 October 2014).

External links

Media related to To-Me-Ree at Wikimedia Commons

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[qhr-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "To-Me-Ree (entry 600588)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.

[1]