Penrhyn: Ipswich’s Rare Brick and Slate Cottage

Penrhyn is a brick-and-slate cottage that looks like it slipped in from another century.

Its rare, deep concave verandah roof curves all the way around, and the whole place feels more like an old sketch come to life than a standard Ipswich house.

John Farrelly built it as part of a row of 4 brick homes on the bottom side of Denmark Hill, reusing bricks from earlier buildings to give it that timeworn look.

Today you can still see the clever way it hugs the slope, with a lower level tucked under the street front.

One of the quirkiest details is out front: over the years the road was raised so much that the verandah now sits below the footpath.

From the street you look down onto this little brick hideaway, a rare survivor that can still turn heads on Limestone Street.

See for yourself. Have a walk around Penrhyn:

📜 Origins & History

• Place. The house stands at 103 Limestone Street on the slope of Denmark Hill.

• Date. The home was built circa 1879.
• Builder. It was built by John Farrelly, who worked in Ipswich as a builder and later an architect.
• Land. In 1875 Farrelly bought four adjacent lots on Limestone Street.
• Tenancy. Number 103 was first rented before the owners moved in.
• Residence. John and Susan Farrelly lived at No. 103 from about 1884.
• Roadworks. In 1881 Farrelly lodged a complaint about the street being filled up outside the property.

🏗️ Architecture & Design

• Form. A compact brick cottage with a hipped slate roof and encircling verandahs.
• Verandah. A concave corrugated‑iron verandah roof wraps all four sides.
• Finish. Walls are rendered and ruled to resemble stone courses.

Penrhyn Jul 1997 (Source: Flickr via Queensland State Archives ID Series 20380)

• Plan. The street level has four main rooms opening to verandahs.
• Slope. The site drops to a lower ground level at the rear with two service rooms.
• Bath. An early cement bath survives in the undercroft.
• Ceilings. The main rooms have pressed metal ceilings, three with a gentle vault.
• Windows. Most are 6‑over‑6 sash windows with recessed exterior panels.
• Fireplaces. There are two fireplaces upstairs and one downstairs.
• Structure. Foundations mix brick piers and stone, with one wall carried on a timber log.
• Materials. Some building fabric was reused from earlier structures.
• Site. The lot area is 484 m².
• Comparative. Unlike most local houses of the era, this dwelling is masonry rather than timber.

⏳ Through the Years

• 1904. John Farrelly died at the house on 20 August 1904.
• 1908. Susan Farrelly died and the properties were auctioned later that year.
• 1909. The property was purchased by the Watson family, who lived there for more than three decades.
• 1941. Robert P. Watson’s funeral was held from the Limestone Street home.
• Mid-century. The house spent years as a rental.
• 1973. The property sold for $15,000.
• 1991. The property sold for $85,000.
• Early 1990s. Conservation work converted the house into a professional office.
• 2005. The property sold for $360,000.
• 2012. The property sold for $475,000.
• Recent. 103 Limestone Street is the head office address for Children First Early Learning Centre.

🛠️ Renovations & Restorations

• Front. The verandah along Limestone Street sits below the footpath and is enclosed.
• Mid‑century. Owners progressively enclosed verandah sections to gain extra rooms.
• Roof. The house has kept its slate roof.
• 1990s. A careful restoration reopened many verandah sections.
• Extension. A small western wing was added for kitchen and bathroom functions.
• Adaptation. The building was fitted for professional office use.
• Services. Electrical and other services were upgraded with minimal change to original fabric.
• Integrity. Most original elements remain and later changes are largely reversible.

🌟 Why it Matters / Heritage Importance

• Listing. The place is on the Queensland Heritage Register as entry 600585.
• Date. The listing took effect on 21 October 1992.
• Rarity. It is an uncommon brick and slate cottage with a concave verandah roof.
• Group. It forms part of a coherent set of four brick houses on Limestone Street.
• Streetscape. The house contributes to the historic Denmark Hill and Baines Park precinct.
• Association. It has a special link to John Farrelly as his project and one‑time home.
• Marker. A Council heritage plaque was installed in 2006.

Penrhyn Historical Marker (Source: Picture Ipswich)

• Condition. The building is in stable condition.