Guide 1: Conserving the Townsville House

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Townsville's Historic Housing

The history of a city or town can be told through its houses. Townsville is one of those fortunate areas in Australia which has retained many of its traditional houses; be they small two-room workers cottages or large verandahed residences. They all have their own story to tell of life in Townsville in days long-past, and make a major positive contribution to the character of the city and to the amenity of its residents. The commercial buildings, public buildings, churches and schools, as well as the parks, trees and gardens, also contribute to the character of areas of traditional houses.

Townsville's houses are special. Much of the decoration found on houses in this city will not be found elsewhere. It is important therefore, to retain or reinstate these elements in order that Townsville's houses remain special. The 'importing' of styles from a book on, say, Brisbane housing should be avoided.

Townsville is also in the enviable position of having more historic houses in its suburbs than were actually built there. This is due to people moving to the city from declining mining towns in the early days and either bringing their own house with them or purchasing one and relocating it - the ultimate in 'moving house'.

If you are the owner of a Townsville house don't think of it as just an old house which should be titivated or spruced up to make it more appealing; instead, think of it as an important part of the history and development of Townsville. Consider yourself, as the current owner, to be the "temporary custodian" of a part of your city's heritage which has passed through a number of generations so far and should be allowed to pass through many more generations in an appropriate condition. Those who come after you will be able to enjoy a properly conserved house - you will become an important part of its fascinating history and be appreciated for your efforts.

The hills of Townsville provided wonderful opportunities for panoramic photography - in this series, taken from c.1888 to c.1909, Carter Street develops from a sandy track to a formed road. As well, the building at the end of, and facing, Carter Street transforms from a small cottage, believed to be the home of the first Catholic Bishop, to a grand two-storeyed presbytery. The development of your house may be seen in similar photo series.
(John Oxley Library Collection)

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What is Conservation?

A view of the presbytery, c.1923, giving clear details of the verandahs. Unfortunately, this building was demolished in the 1950's. (John Oxley Library Collection)

Conservation means to retain or to reinstate all of those parts of a building which contribute to it being a part of the history of Townsville.

Conservation not restoration, is the generic term for properly caring for buildings and sites of historical significance. Conservation of old houses should be guided by the philosophies laid down in the publication titled The Illustrated Burra Charter. The Burra Charter, as it is commonly known, defines the various aspects of conservation as:

Maintenance

The continuous protective care of a place (to maintain its current form and materials and to protect it against decay or deterioration, ie. cleaning out guttering, painting walls, etc). Maintenance is always good conservation - if your house is basically intact, simply maintaining it in good condition may be the best, and is certainly the cheapest, method of caring for it.

Restoration

Returning the existing fabric (ie. the physical material) of a place to a known earlier state by removing accretions (for example removing fibro sheeting from verandahs), or by reassembling existing components without the introduction of new material (such as reinstating, into their previous location, the French doors you have found in the back shed).

Reconstruction

Returning a place as nearly as possible to a known earlier state by the introduction of new or old materials (such as reinstating missing verandah balustrading and mouldings using both evidence found from old photographs and paint impressions located on the verandah posts).

Adaptation

Modifying a place to suit a proposed compatible use without changing the significant parts of the place and by implementing works which are substantially reversible or which impose minimal impact (for example, using an old house for office use or simply adding new kitchen benches).

The fourth aspect of conservation, adaptation, is one which is very pertinent. Few people have a desire to live in a museum; therefore new facilities such as bathrooms and kitchens may be required but such work should take account of existing room forms and not require major changes to the structure. Likewise, extra room may be required to cope with today's lifestyle and expectations. Any additions should be in keeping with the house; preferably, new living space should be placed at the rear to retain the street presentation of the house. Carports or garages, if to be beside the house, should be kept well back from the front wall or verandah line for the same reason. To maintain an old house in an early form, or to return one to an earlier form, should be satisfying and rewarding. It can also be very beneficial when it comes time to move on as houses which have undergone a proper conservation process are usually easier to sell, and at the right price, than those that have been substantially altered or modernised. The principle "as little as possible, as much as necessary" is one which should guide your conservation work. Conservation need not be expensive as it should involve only the least work necessary to achieve the goal.

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Conserving Your House

House at West End - in need of maintenance and some restoration only. (Ralph Power Associates Pty Ltd)

Richardson Residence, c.1910. Family photographs, often available from descendants, give clear details of the exterior. (John Oxley Library Collection)

'Wandela', c.1891. Not as highly decorated as usual, some houses bore a wonderful simplicity of detail. (John Oxley Library Collection)

'Wolverton', Stagpole Street, West Endm, a properly conserved house. (Ralph Power Associates Pty Ltd)

The W.H Green Residence, West End, 1914. Family photographs can give extraordinary detail, not only of the house and garden in question, but also of the property next door and even the local hotel across the road. (John Oxley Library Collection)

Where To Start?

Perhaps the best place to start is out in the suburbs. Look for houses which have been properly conserved, or are in original condition and have been well maintained over the years, in suburbs such as North Ward, West End, South Townsville, Railway Estate and Hermit Park. Compare these with houses which have been renovated rather than conserved, overdone, raised too high or unsympathetically altered and extended and consider how out of place they appear.

Look for houses which have been clad with fibro and try to imagine what lies beneath. Usually much of the original detail, fortunately, was left in place when fibro was added - removing the fibro may reveal all the details necessary for good conservation of a verandah.

Stop and chat with people along the way on how they went about the work on their house - sources of information, materials, tradesmen skilled in the old ways and so on. They may even be looking for suggestions for their houses - you may be able to guide them in the right direction or between you find a correct solution to a problem. Suitably enthused from your observations, return home and think about it all. Don't rush into the work - good conservation takes planning, a deal of research, some solid decision-making and time.

Look

Appreciating the special character of the house and its setting is very important before getting under way. Live in it, appreciate the angles at which the sun and breezes come in, experience the summer storms and downpours and it may become apparent why former owners changed certain aspects of the house.

Record

Record the present condition of the house and the yard by drawing a floor plan and site plan. Rough as they may be, nevertheless they will be one of the most valuable tools for your conservation work. Mark on the plans all of your observations - timber decay, water entry, suspect structure (whether it be from termites, rotted stumps, failed joints and so on), roof and guttering conditions, details which to you seem inappropriate or wrong, mature trees and shrubs in the garden, paths (which may lead to the location of an earlier stair) and so on. Photograph the house from all directions and close up - studying photographs may reveal details and conditions not readily evident from wandering around and looking.

Research

Undertake a research program for the house, collecting as much information as can be found. Reference to the Townsville City Council brochure "Tracing the History of Your House" will provide a thorough guide for sources of information. Visit libraries, the Museum, James Cook University and other places to view their historic photograph collections - they are wonderful and inspiring and you will also learn more about Townsville's past (and you may even find your house there).

Talk to elderly residents nearby to obtain their memories - write down important points or record conversations. See if they know of any surviving previous owners or their descendants. Ask questions of them - previous colour schemes, dates of construction, reasons for extensions or changes, how the garden was laid out, and so on, they will be pleased to know someone is caring, properly, for a house with which they had a close association. Ask if anyone has old photographs of the house - a family portrait on the front verandah will give an incredible amount of information of the verandah itself and usually the gardens and fence. Even a photo of the family pet on the front steps may provide the stair detail, the balustrade, the battening under the verandah and any verandah gates.

Things To Avoid

• Renovation
• Modernising
• Over-decorating
• Cladding
• Opening spaces
• Raising

Renovation

'Renovation'- while maintenance, restoration or reconstruction may be applied to all old houses, significant renovations require more consideration. Renovations often substantially alter a house, and affect its cultural significance.

Modernising

'Modernising' is another process which can be fraught with danger - what is modern today will not be modern in years to come, just as the fibro sheeting applied to houses in the 60s and 70s, to 'modernise' them, is today being removed.

Over-decorating

To 'over-decorate' or 'over-improve' an old house should be resisted as it will turn it into something it never was. For example, installing imitation lacework onto a verandah, simply to make it look prettier, should be avoided as it detracts from its historical significance rather than enhances it. Likewise, adding lots of curly timber features and fretwork can 'over-restore' it and make it more a wedding cake then an important element of Townsville's heritage.

Cladding

Refrain from cladding a house with siding or fibro planking as this can not only spoil its appearance and lessen its value, but also provide dark wall cavities ideally suited to termite infestation. Accept the original features and form of an old house for what they are - evidence of the architecture of Townsville at an era in the city's history. Accept also, any extensions made to the house which suit its original style. Just as owners today extend houses as families grow, lifestyles change and mortgages come under control, so too did our ancestors - it is all part of the history of the evolution of a house.

Open Spaces

Resist the temptation to cut great openings through internal walls to 'open up' the interior. Not only does this detract from the original form of the floor plan of the house, but it may substantially weaken the structure. The success and longevity of old Queenslanders was due, in no small part, to the walls being tied together to form a good structure (although constructed of small section timbers). It has also been found more recently that the wall boarding itself contributed significantly to the bracing process of the houses.

Raising

The temptation to raise an old house to gain extra living space should be avoided for the harm it can do to the streetscape and to the visual amenity of the area. If your house is low-set, investigate its history; sometimes a low-set house was one of the first in an area and therefore may be of a particular historical importance. Consider, rather, extending onto the rear. If enclosing the lower level of an existing high-set house is contemplated, consider battening, or similar, located at the line of the main core of the house to retain the form of the verandahs and the deep shading below them.

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Getting Help With Your Conservation Project

Owners of certain houses in Townsville can take advantage of the City Council's advisory service for extensions, or work on old houses generally. Contact should be made with the Heritage Unit of the Council in this regard. Even if your house does not fall into this category, the people at the Heritage Unit will try to assist wherever possible with your conservation process. Consider using a little of your budget to obtain professional advice from an architect or designer experienced in conservation work to guide you from the outset and maybe save you money in the long term.

Three views of 'Ballachmore' in the 1880's providing an immense amount of information for conservation.
(John Oxley Library Collection)

Prepare A Master Plan

Murgatroyd Residence, 1920's. Even a blurred family snapshot is an excellent starting point. (John Oxley Library Collection)

When you have sufficient information, prepare a 'master plan' setting out all the work that you identify needs to be done, whether it be maintenance, restoration, reconstruction and even adaptation.

Sort the work into a schedule starting with urgent works. It would be unwise, for example, to launch into reinstating missing doors or windows or reconstructing balustrades before the floor is levelled and the stumps put right, just as it would be dangerous to pass over repairs which could be a safety hazard in favour of work of less urgency. When you have your priorities listed and the master plan is complete, only then should you set about conserving your Townsville house.

This brochure has been prepared for the Townsville City Council by Ralph Power Associates Pty Ltd.

For advice on various technical aspects of house conservation, please refer to the series Conserving the Queensland House prepared by the National Trust of Queensland and available from the Heritage Unit of Townsville City Council or from the National Trust Centre, Castling Street, West End.

For more information, please phone 4727 9000 or contact the Special Projects Unit.

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