To some eyes, Queensland’s distinctive wood and tin homes gave Brisbane, and other Queensland cities and rural areas, a rather temporary, insubstantial air. Known as ‘Queenslanders’, they seemed so much less solid and permanent than those of brick or stone. Many Queensland houses were perched high in the air on tall stumps, as the supporting pillars were always known as, and seemed likely to simply fly away.

The Queensland home was comparatively cost-effective when wood was plentiful, easy to transport, and, in a relatively stable climate, single skin, unlined walls were all that were thought to be needed to protect dwellers~people~the dwellers within} from the cold. Strong corrugated iron roofs withstood torrential tropical rain and could be re-used if moved by cyclonic winds.

The verandahs sheltered people from the burning sun and also caught any breeze that might be passing during the steamy summers. Coverings outside window openings meant that windows didn’t have to be quickly shut when humidity brought rain. Cleverly placed little revolving tin cylinders on the roofs removed hot air that filled ceiling spaces through decorative fretwork openings.

Although timber isn’t a particularly effective insulator for either heat or cold, air was able to flow along the long central hallways in a typical Queensland house and also across the house from an open window on one side through open doors to the open window on the opposite side. Some exteriors were painted, others were just oiled. Some verandahs were built with elaborate and expensive iron lace; others simply with timber dowels and carved timber decoration in pediments over front entrance.

Despite the air of seeming impermanence, the Queenslander has survived since its first appearance in the mid-nineteenth century. However, it has evolved. The simple two-room or four-room cottage has given way to much larger, sprawling dwellings. The pattern of the Queenslander house could be translated into early forms of kit-set houses.

Many were created by companies in Brisbane and transported long distances almost as flat-packs on trains. Collections of verandahs, tongue and groove boards for walls and sheets of corrugated iron for roofs were available at the destination for assembling. The public housing movement that produced workers homes adapted the basic materials to different shapes and sizes suitable for lower-cost housing.

After the war, the Queenslander seemed out of date in a world of modem architecture. Brick houses, American ranch style residences and other imported styles began to populate new suburbs. However, Brisbane is a hilly city and even modem designs often adapted the idea of stumps so that houses could be close to the ground near the top of a rising allotment and high where the ground fell away. In the late twentieth century, the old materials, tin and timber, were given new currency by innovative architects to create distinctly modem, light and airy Queensland houses.

In the 1970s and 1980s, when a drift back towards the inner suburbs attracted the attention of a new generation, old Queenslanders were discovered by younger owners. They painted them lovingly and added various renovations to bring an old favourite into the modem era.

However they originated, whether from sugar planters houses in the West Indies, bungalows in India or high houses in Malaysia, the Queenslander still distinguishes Brisbane from other Australian capital cities.

Looking for a great alternative to paint for your Queenslander? For Wall Cladding Brisbane & Vinyl House Cladding Brisbane, contact Prestige Exteriors today: http://www.prestigeexteriors.com.au/

To some eyes, Queensland’s familiar wood and tin houses gave Brisbane, and other Queensland cities and towns, a particular temporary, insubstantial air. Known as 'A Queenslander’, they seemed so much less solid and permanent than those built of brick or stone. Many Queensland houses were placed high in the air on tall stumps, as the supporting piles have been called, and it was fancied they seemed likely to simply fly away.

The Queensland home was comparatively cost-effective when timber was plentiful, easy to move from place to place, and, in a relatively stable climate, single skin, unlined walls were all that were considered needed to protect dwellers~people~the dwellers within} from the cold. Stout corrugated iron roofs stood up to torrential tropical rain and could be re-used if moved by cyclonic winds.

Verandahs sheltered people from the burning sun and also caught any breeze that may have been passing in the steamy summers. Covers outside window openings meant that windows didn’t need to be quickly shut when humidity brought rain. Clever little revolving tin cylinders on the roofs pulled out hot air that filled ceiling spaces through decorative fretwork openings.

Although timber isn’t a particularly effective insulator against either heat or cold, air was able to flow along long central hallways in a typical Queensland house and also across the house from an open window on one side through open doors to the open window on the opposite side. The exterior of some houses were painted, others were simply oiled. Some verandahs were decorated with elaborate and expensive iron lace; others simply with timber dowels and carved timber decoration in pediments over front entrance.

Despite the air of apparent impermanence, the Queensland house has survived since it first appeared in the mid-nineteenth century. However, it has evolved. The simple two-room or four-room cottage has given way to much larger, sprawling dwellings. The pattern of the Queenslander home could be translated into the early forms of kit-set homes.

Many were manufactured by companies in Brisbane and transported long distances almost as flat-packs on trains. Collections of verandahs, tongue and groove boards for walls and sheets of corrugated iron for roofs were ready at their destination for assembly. The public housing movement that produced workers cottages adapted the ingredients to varying shapes and sizes suitable for lower-cost housing.

After the war, the Queenslander seemed out of date in a world of modem architecture. Brick houses, American ranch style residences and other imported styles began to populate new suburbs. However, Brisbane is a hilly city and even modem designs often adapted the idea of stumps so that houses could be close to the ground near the top of a rising allotment and high where the ground angled away. In the late twentieth century, the old materials, tin and timber, were given new currency by innovative architects to create distinctly modem, light and airy Queensland homes.

In the 1970s and 1980s, when a drift back to the inner suburbs attracted a new generation, old Queenslanders were discovered by younger owners. They painted them lovingly and added various renovations to bring an old favourite into the modem era.

However they originated, whether from sugar planters houses in the West Indies, bungalows in India or high houses in Malaysia, the Queenslander still distinguishes Brisbane from the other Australian capital cities.

Looking for a great alternative to paint for your Queenslander? For Wall Cladding Brisbane & Vinyl House Cladding Brisbane, contact Prestige Exteriors today: http://www.prestigeexteriors.com.au/