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Former Thuringowa region

Guide 5: Townsville Verandahs

Introduction

Prior to starting on the conservation (or restoration as it is commonly known) of your verandahs, the previous guides produced in this series should be read carefully and understood - if you are not sure about something, please contact the City Heritage and Beautification Unit of the Townsville City Council for assistance.

Guide 1 in the series of The Townsville House provides details on the subject of conservation and why it is important that any conservation should be to the highest standard achievable.

Guide 2 in the series explains the methods to be followed to trace the history of your house.

Guide 3 in the series explains reconstruction or restoration of the fences which were an integral part of the Townsville house.

Guide 4 in the series - Townsville Gardens - assists in either a faithful historic restoration or in a renovation of an appropriate or respectful character.

Even the modest worker's dwelling, such as
this one at West End was individualised by
its verandah balustrade, brackets and
mouldings. Note the gate at the top of the
stairs, possibly to keep the children in or the
goats out, and the slight taper on the stair
sides - all very important details to be
reconstructed if missing today.
(John Oxley Library Collection)

Why do houses have verandahs?

When the British first colonised Australia, they brought with them the architectural style that was popular in Britain at the time, the Georgian style.

However, the Georgian style in Britain did not generally have any protection for the walls of houses as the rains there were not particularly severe. In addition, the climate was so cold for most of the year that it was a benefit for the sun to warm the walls during the day and penetrate the windows to reach the interiors.

It did not take the early settlers too many summers in Australia to realise that there was a very serious need to shield the house from the weather, just as a broad-brimmed hat protects the head.

The Townsville Verandah

Form and Appearance

As settlement spread to the north of the continent, with it came the verandah. While the verandahs of the early colonies were quite simple and austere, by the time they reached Townsville some 76 years after the settlement of Australia, they had become quite decorative.

Each verandah achieved, whether by intention or simply because it was normal repetitive practice, a delightfully human scale. The roof was brought down enough to provide the maximum shading for the house behind while the height of the roof at the edge of the verandah was just sufficient for the tallest of people to look out from comfortably.

The extent of the verandahs on the houses probably resulted from the means of the owner. Small workers dwellings usually had one on the front, to at least protect the front door and the windows to the front rooms, and more often than not a rear verandah as well.

A narrow 16 perch (400m²) allotment, sometimes all that a worker could afford, usually meant that there was no room beside the house for any side verandahs.

The middle-class, and workers with slightly better finances, had front and rear verandahs and a side verandah as well. The side verandah, it appears, was generally located to give the desired protection from the weather, the western sun and other similar reasons.

The upper-class, and again those below upper-class who could afford just that little extra, had verandahs on all four sides of their houses to repel almost everything that Nature could threaten the house with. However, the verandahs, be they of lower, middle or upper-class families, were usually of similar form and structure but embellished with simple and decorative, but slightly different, details to give the house the individual touch of the owners.

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Development over the years

The Early Townsville House develops, with very simple verandah decoration - nothing pretentious about these proud owners. Note the windows to the front verandah instead of French doors - often found on early houses, this may be attributed to both privacy and security. Such variations, therefore, tell a story of early Townsville and should be retained.
(James Cook University of North Queensland Collection)

Obviously the home of a well-to-do family of early Townsville, the verandah decoration was, nevertheless, quite understated. Note, however, the variation on the simple dowel balustrade comprising a lower top rail below the handrail with every second baluster extending to the handrail. Even the semi-detached kitchen at the rear was modestly decorated.
(James Cook University of North Queensland Collection)

It is important to remember that the Townsville house, as it was originally built, was usually the home of a single man or of a young married couple.

Therefore, the verandahs could remain open on the perimeter as they were only required for weather protection and outdoor living to escape the incessant heat of the day inside the house.

As the house was lived in, though, and the weather conditions were experienced, perhaps blinds or lattice panels were added at particular locations to provide sun control.

When the children arrived, and ten or twelve in a family was not uncommon, more sleeping area was required. The most economical method to achieve this was to progressively enclose the verandahs.

In addition, to improve the security of a home, the decision might be taken to enclose the front verandah. This was usually done by either changing the balustrade to a half-height wall, with wooden louvres or casement windows in the openings over the wall, or by retaining the balustrade and adding wooden louvres above it. The latter method permitted the airflow through the balustrade to be maintained.

Whilst wooden louvres reduced both the outlook from the interior and the amount of light penetrating to the rooms of the house, they are a very good controller of sun and rain. They also, if they are in good working condition, are said to be valuable protection against cyclones as they supposedly close automatically on the windward side and open on the leeward side to equalise the air pressure within the house. In addition, they repel flying missiles such as roof sheeting and other objects.

From the early 20th Century until the late 1930s/early 1940s, house styles evolved from the symmetrical form to asymmetrical with projecting gables at the main (front) bedroom and sometimes at the entry. Through this period, however, all houses had at least one verandah. The size of the verandahs may have progressively decreased, probably due to increased costs, but the need for a casual outdoor sitting area endured.

From the end of World War 2, verandahs were a luxury item, due to materials shortages, and very few houses had them.

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Conservation of the Verandah

Research

Before making assumptions on the possible original appearance of the verandah and proceeding with the 'restoration' project, it is wise to carry out research and investigation into the early form and appearance of it. Talk to neighbours and older residents in the street as they may have valuable memories to share.

Take the time to trace the history of the house and through that history, try to locate previous owners of the house. They may be able to tell you about its earlier appearances through the years. They could also have photographs that will give you all the information you need for a faithful restoration.

Visit the research agencies listed in Guide 2 of this series and peruse their photographic collections - you might just find your house there.

If you are fortunate enough to locate a series of photographs of your house through the years, look at them closely to determine to which era you are going to restore your verandahs.

If the verandahs were enclosed, it may have been for a very good reason. It may be best to live in the house for a year or two to experience the weather conditions as they may have been the cause for some of the earlier enclosures. Prematurely removing the enclosures may make you regret the action when you realise later they were, in fact, put there to cut the western summer sun or the driving rain of the wet season.

Verandah Terminology:

Bracket
Post moulding
Verandah post with stop chamfering
Balustrade (timber with dowel balusters
Stump Cap
Stump
Corrugated iron roof sheeting
Guttering
Verandah plate
Handrail
Balusters
Bottom rail
Nesting board
Floor fascia
Bearer

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Physical Investigation

If you can not locate any old photographs of the house, there are other ways to investigate what might have been there. Look on the verandah posts and plates and on the floor for paint marks, mortises, screw holes, stop chamfering and so on. These can tell many stories - for example:

Possibly the epitome of the symmetrical Townsville dwelling of the early 20th Century. Note how the larger lattice panels stop at the line of the post mouldings - this provided sufficient height for privacy whilst still showing the shape of the brackets and allowing cool breeze to enter and hot air to escape - the reasons are still very valid today.
(James Cook University of North Queensland Collection)

paint marks on the verandah plate can tell the length of the brackets
paint marks towards the top of the verandah posts can be used to tell the vertical size of the brackets and if there were any post mouldings around the posts below the brackets
mortises on the side of the verandah posts are evidence of the number of rails in the balustrade and their heights, and paint marks may provide the shapes of the rails
stop chamfering on the posts is proof that the verandah had a balustrade originally as opposed to a solid half-height wall
small notches or holes at regular intervals in the verandah nosing boards would suggest that there was originally a cast iron lacework balustrade.

Some houses were 'modernised' in the mid-20th Century by applying fibro to the faces of the balustrades - in such cases, removal of the fibro may reveal an intact balustrade.

It is important, if enough clear evidence can not be found, that the research and investigation not be abandoned and just anything provided. If all else fails, go back to the historic photograph collections and try to find houses that are generally of similar age and appearance as yours. Obtain a copy of the photographs and use them as a pattern for the 'restoration' of your verandah but, remember, try not to mix details from different eras as it will inevitably show up in the end result and will not look right.

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Structural Matters

It is imperative, before starting on the repair or reconstruction of the balustrades and other decorative work, to carefully assess the condition of the structural timbers and to ensure that the floor is level and the posts are plumb. The structural timbers should be checked for dry rot and termite damage and repaired or replaced if necessary.

Materials

Another grand Townsville residence, probably dating from the 1880s, with perhaps the most decorative verandah treatment one could find. Not to be contented with extraordinary timber fretwork band below the roof, a projecting bay was provided for the entry topped by a classical pediment complete with ornate acroteria at the centre and ends.
(James Cook University of North Queensland Collection)

Because verandahs are, except for the roof, the part of the house most exposed to the weather, it is important to give consideration to the type of materials used. Wherever possible, use good quality hardwood timber of a suitable durability class. If there is no alternative to using pine for such items as balustrade dowels, ensure that the pine is given a good preservative treatment.

All fixings such as nails, screws, bolts, etc. should be galvanised if they are of steel. It is very frustrating to finish the job only to have rust marks appear on the outside of the paint within a couple of years.

If the original verandah had timber battening below the edge of the verandah, try to retain or reconstruct the battening as it adds to the appearance of the verandah.

Do not be tempted, however, to fully enclose the space between the stumps unless your research indicates that it was enclosed from an early date. Keeping the space open enhances the deep shading effect below the verandah and, even when the space was completely battened, it was usual to finish the battening in a dark colour, possibly similar to Creosote, to achieve a similar appearance.

If stairs have been rebuilt with modern steel stringers, or if the original stairs have survived and require reconstruction, consider matching the original details in order that the house can retain its cohesion of detail. If photographic evidence of the original stair balustrade can not be located, matching the verandah balustrade is always a safe option.

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