Newstead House History

Newstead House was once the most prestigious residence in the Moreton Bay colony, famous for extravagant gatherings and its role at the centre of Brisbane’s social life. Built in 1846, it remains Brisbane’s oldest surviving European home and offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of those who lived and entertained here in the early days of the city.

Today, Newstead House is a welcoming House Museum that continues to share its stories with visitors. The following sections invite you to explore the deeper history of this remarkable place, from the rich cultural significance of the land to the people and events that shaped Newstead House over time.

Garranbinbilla – First Nations Peoples History

Nestled at the meeting point of Breakfast Creek and the Brisbane River (Maiwar), the headland now known as Newstead Point has long been a place of gathering, sustenance, and cultural significance. Known as Garranbinbilla, the name reflects the Indigenous fibres harvested from local vines, traditionally used to craft shelters.

The surrounding waterways and landscape formed a rich and productive ecosystem for First Nations Peoples. Just north of Newstead House, near today’s Abbotsford Road Bridge, a complex fishing weir known as Yawa’garu (You-arr-garee) once spanned the creek. The abundance of fish and natural resources supported thriving Aboriginal communities, with camps continuing in the area into the 1870s.

The largest of these camps was located along the creek bank at what is now Yowoggera Park, only 200 metres from Newstead House. Garranbinbilla and its surrounding waters were central to daily life, providing food, shelter and connection to Country for countless generations.

European Settlement

European exploration of the area began in 1823 when John Oxley travelled along the river, later renaming it the Brisbane River, and landed near what is now North Quay. His journey led to the establishment of the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement in 1825, which operated until Brisbane opened to free settlers in 1842.

As settlement expanded, the landscape around Garranbinbilla underwent significant change. By 1845, the area had become known as Breakfast Creek Farm, divided into a series of allotments offered for purchase. That same year, brothers-in-law Patrick Leslie and Captain John Clements Wickham acquired neighbouring parcels of land.

Leslie was particularly taken with the location, writing to his father in August 1846, “I know of no place I would sooner live.” Their settlement marked the beginning of Newstead’s transformation into a residential and social hub, shaping the site into the historically significant place it remains today.

Image: Breakfast Creek after Newstead House grounds were cleared (no date), State Library of Queensland

Black and white historcial image of Breakfast Creek showing cleared land scattered trees along the creek banks

The Leslie Years (1845 - 1846)

Patrick Leslie, second son of Scottish laird William Leslie, arrived in Australia in 1834 in search of opportunity. After working on family properties in the Hunter Valley and later at Dunheved, he became engaged to Catherine Macarthur, whose dowry supported his ambitions.

In 1839, a meeting with explorer Allan Cunningham sparked Patrick’s interest in the fertile lands of the Darling Downs. With his brothers George and Walter, he helped establish Toolburra and Canning Downs Stations before returning south to formalise land claims. Patrick married Catherine in 1840 and briefly settled at Dunheved.

Despite ongoing financial pressures, Patrick purchased land at Newstead in 1845 and began building a substantial two-storey home, believed to have been overseen by pioneer architect Andrew Petrie. By 1846, the family moved into Newstead House, where Patrick proudly noted his flourishing gardens. However, financial strain and personal loss soon led Patrick and Catherine to leave Newstead and return to the Darling Downs only months after settling in.

Images: Mrs Patrick Leslie (no date), State Library of Queensland
Portrait of Patrick Leslie by R. H. Bartlett. (no date). taken in Auckland, New Zealand, 1877, State Library of Queensland

Black and white photos of Patrick Leslie with a long white beard wearing a dark suit and Mrs Leslie wearing a long dark dress with many ruffle layers

The Wickhams (1847 - 1862)

In 1847, Newstead entered a new era when the Leslies sold the property to their neighbour, Captain John Clements Wickham, Brisbane’s Police Magistrate, and his wife Anna, Kate Leslie’s sister. Wickham, who represented the Governor in Brisbane, was widely respected for his sense of duty and compassion. His legacy lives on in place names across the city, including Wickham Terrace, Wickham Street, and The Wickham Hotel.

A former Royal Navy officer, Wickham had crossed paths with Charles Darwin, who gifted him three Galapagos tortoises. One, Harriet, lived at Newstead House before later becoming famous at Australia Zoo, where she died in 2006 at an estimated age of 175.

Wickham expanded the estate to 24 hectares and transformed the original cottage into a grand residence, adding French doors and wide verandahs ideal for entertaining. Newstead House soon became a social and political hub, unofficially serving as Government House and hosting prominent visitors, including governors and senior church figures — though one governor’s stay was famously interrupted by a black snake in his bed.

Anna Wickham shared Patrick Leslie’s love of gardening and corresponded with botanist William Macarthur. Tragically, she died in 1852 following complications from childbirth, at just 35 years old. Wickham remained at Newstead for several years before remarrying in 1857. After Queensland’s separation from New South Wales in 1859 rendered his role redundant, Wickham retired to France, where he died in 1864, leaving an enduring mark on Brisbane’s history.

Images: Captain John Clements Wickham (no date), State Library of Queensland
Mrs John Clements Wickham (no date), State Library of Queensland

Black and white portrait images of Captain Wickham and Mrs Wickham

The Harris Family (1862 - 1890)

Despite travelling widely, Wickham found it hard to let go of Newstead House. From 1860 to 1862, he leased the grand home to Queensland’s first Attorney-General, Ratcliffe Pring. Known for his fiery temper, Pring famously threw punches on the floor of Parliament House, a scandal that didn’t stop his rise to Supreme Court Justice.

In December 1862, George and Jane Harris became tenants, purchasing Newstead House in 1866. George was a successful shipping agent, importing fine goods from England and exporting Australian wool with his brothers. With their six children, the Harrises brought new life and plenty of celebration to the house.

Working with architect and politician James Cowlishaw, the family transformed Newstead. They reoriented the entrance to face the road, added a grand hall and new rooms, and extended the verandah. These changes created the spacious, light-filled Newstead House we recognise today, rich with Victorian style.

Newstead soon became Brisbane’s social hub. Lavish parties were common, including a church picnic for 400 schoolchildren in 1877 and a spectacular wedding in 1883, complete with temporary ballrooms, a band, and glowing coloured lanterns. One visitor later called it the “centre of Brisbane social life,” where guests often arrived uninvited and stayed.

But the glamour came at a cost. The Harrises’ extravagant lifestyle and George’s unsuccessful business ventures led to financial trouble. In 1876, Newstead was lost to businessman James Taylor, who subdivided the estate, giving the suburb its name. The family’s belongings were auctioned on site, and they moved away. George Harris died in 1891, his ambitious vision shaped and ultimately undone by a changing world.

Images: George Harris, c1870, State Library of Queensland
Jane Harris (no date), The Royal Historical Society of Queensland

Black and white images of George Harris standing in a suit and Jane Harris in a long dress seated on a velvet chair with a fringe decoration

Changing Times and Changing Tenants (1890 - 1918)

After the Harris family left, Newstead House entered a period of change, passing through several owners and tenants. From 1891 to 1894, it was home to the Flegeltaub family, who added a touch of romance to the house when their eldest daughter, Annie, was married here on a rainy day in 1893.

The Clarks followed, staying until about 1896. James Clark was a major figure in the pearling industry, widely known as the “Pearl King.” Later that year, Newstead was purchased by Lysaght Brothers & Co. and entered a quieter phase, occasionally housing workers from their rabbit-proof fencing business.

As Brisbane itself was transforming with electric trams introduced in 1897, Federation in 1901, and city status granted in 1902, Newstead House remained a constant presence. In January 1918, Brisbane City Council purchased the property from its final private owners, the Heaslop family, who had also celebrated a wedding on the grounds.

Through decades of change, Newstead House quietly witnessed the growth of Brisbane, its walls holding stories of love, industry, and a city coming of age.

Image: Lewis Flegeltaub, his daughters Annie, Lily and Leah, son Alexander and wife Esther in front of Newstead House (no date), Queensland Newspapers Pty. Ltd. State Library of Queensland

Black and white photo of Lewis Flegeltaub, his daughters Annie, Lily and Leah, son Alexander and wife Esther in front of Newstead House

Newstead House Adapts (1918 - present)

Cared for by Brisbane City Council, Newstead House has entered a vibrant new chapter while honouring its past.

In 1921, Newstead Park was transformed under the guidance of Harry Moore, Superintendent of Parks, helping establish Newstead House as a much-loved Brisbane landmark. Its historical value was formally recognised in 1932, when the Historical Society of Queensland opened a museum here. In 1939, Newstead House made history again as Queensland’s first property protected under its own Act of Parliament.

During World War II, the house supported the war effort, serving as barracks for U.S. servicemen from a photographic unit. From 1951 to 1967, it was owned by the Queensland Women’s Historical Society, followed by a careful restoration. In 1971, Newstead House reopened to the public as a house museum.

Community support has remained strong. The Friends of Newstead House formed in 1974, raising funds to restore key rooms, and in 1992 the house was added to the Queensland Heritage Register. After welcoming generations of visitors and showing signs of wear, further significant conservation funding was provided in 2021 by Queensland Government, ensuring Newstead House and the nearby Substation will be preserved for years to come.

To learn more about the Newstead House and Substation Conservation Project, visit:
https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/heritage/newstead-house

Image: National Archives & Records Administration RG111SC neg# 250420

Colourised black and white photo of soldiers dancing with civilians in casual dress in Newstead House during the War Years

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We acknowledge the Turrbal and Yuggera people, Traditional Owners of the land on which we gather and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

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