Tyson Manor

General

Also known as

Strathmore; Craig Furth; Downlands College

Classification

State Heritage

Register status

Entered

Date entered

21 August 1992

Type

Residential: Detached house

Theme

6.4 Building settlements, towns, cities and dwellings: Dwellings

Architect

Hodgen, William Jnr

Builder

Godsall, Richard

Construction periods

1880, House - ground floor (stone)

1905, House - first floor and brick rear extension

Historical period

1870s–1890s Late 19th century

1900–1914 Early 20th century

Location

Address

64 Ruthven Street, Harlaxton, Toowoomba

LGA

Toowoomba Regional Council

Coordinates

-27.53574392, 151.9573521

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Significance

Criterion AThe place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland’s history.

Tyson Manor, constructed in phases between c1880 and 1905, is representative of the pattern of affluent settlement which occurred in Toowoomba in the late 19th/early 20th century, demonstrating the transition of the Darling Downs from a sparsely populated rural district to one of prosperity and prominence. It is one of the many fine residences which reflect Toowoomba’s growth and development as a major regional centre in Queensland.

Criterion DThe place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places.

In its form, fabric and layout, Tyson Manor is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a fine residence from the late 19th/early 20th century. An important intact example of the residential work of architect William Hodgen, it comprises a substantial building of quality design and materials, with entrance foyer and ground floor entertaining rooms.

Criterion EThe place is important because of its aesthetic significance.

Tyson Manor is of aesthetic significance for its highly intact picturesque architectural qualities. The substantial brick and stone residence has considerable architectural value as a building of well-composed features and high-quality materials, detailing and finishes, both internally and externally.

Criterion HThe place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland’s history.

Tyson Manor has a special association with former owner John Tyson Doneley, who is connected with the establishment of Pittsworth (formerly Beauaraba), and who was responsible for the additions to the house and its role as a centre of social activity.

Tyson Manor is associated with the work of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, who purchased the property in 1930 for the purpose of founding a college. It was the original building in what is now a large school complex and continues to provide accommodation for members of the religious community.

History

Tyson Manor is a substantial stone and brick residence, constructed in phases between c1880 and 1905. Now standing within the grounds of Downlands College, Tyson Manor retains its grand appearance, a testament to the prosperity and optimism surrounding the late 19th century development of Toowoomba as a regional centre.

European settlement of the Toowoomba area commenced in 1840 when squatters first occupied pastoral runs on the Darling Downs. Near the boundaries of Westbrook, Gowrie and Eton Vale runs and at the junction of two routes to Gorman's and Hodgson's gaps through the Main Range, the small settlement of Drayton (originally known as ‘The Springs') evolved from 1842 as a stopping place servicing pastoralists and travellers. From the late 1840s, the Drayton Swamp Agricultural Area (‘The Swamp'), six kilometres to the north-east, began to be considered a more desirable location for settlement. Better land for market gardening, improved water supply, the support of squatters and land speculators, and, from 1855, a better route to Brisbane (The Toll Road), were all advantages over Drayton.[1]

The name ‘Toowoomba' had gradually taken over from ‘The Swamp' by 1857 and the settlement continued to expand. At the time of its incorporation into a municipality in November 1860, Toowoomba was on the way to supplanting Drayton as the principal service centre for the upper Darling Downs. Prior to 1859, Toowoomba's population was around 1500. Five years later this figure had doubled. The rapid economic and social development of Toowoomba in the 1860s was influenced by local residents who strongly promoted the prospects of the town, and political representatives who successfully lobbied for government funding for civic improvements.[2] In July 1865 the first section of railway line in Queensland was opened from Brisbane to Ipswich and by April 1867 the line reached Toowoomba, securing the town's future development and making it the hub for the Southern and Western railways. 

During the 1870s Toowoomba consolidated its status as the main urban centre of the Darling Downs. The economy diversified to include numerous small-scale manufacturing outlets, while the majority of administrative, service and other government and education functions for the surrounding region were centred on the town. Toowoomba's progress was reflected in improvements to the physical environment. Important capital works were commenced or completed including the draining of the swamps, improved water supply, gasworks for lighting, extensive tree plantings and the initial development of Queen's Park.

As Toowoomba developed as the leading centre of the Darling Downs and surrounding areas, its prosperity was translated into impressive commercial, civic and residential structures.  A new town hall, befitting Toowoomba’s improved status, was designed by Sydney architect, Albert Myers, and opened in 1880.[3] During the late 1880s and early 1890s, the residential area of Toowoomba was rapidly expanding, with large holdings in the smaller surrounding shires subdivided for residential allotments.[4]

Tyson Manor was erected c1880 as a single storey residence by local builder Richard Godsall. The residence was reportedly built for the Mattinsons.[5] John William Mattinson was a merchant and commission agent in early Toowoomba, and his wife Elizabeth Mattinson (nee McIntyre)[6] was the sister of Lady Nelson, the wife of Sir Hugh Muir Nelson, owners of Gabbinbar [600840]. However, ownership of the original residence is unclear as the Certificate of Title for the land on which the house was built (current Lot 1 on RP17507) was in the name of Mary Meldon, wife of Joseph Meldon, from 1868 until a Trust was established over the property in June 1878, with Hugh Muir Nelson and Joseph Sharp McIntyre as trustees.[7] The land directly to the south was also in the Meldon’s name, until Nelson and McIntyre became trustees in July 1879[8]. In September 1879, the Trustees borrowed 1,000 pounds against both lots, possibly to fund the construction of the single storey residence.[9]

The second owner of Tyson Manor was William Sly, a pastoralist from the Burnett District who purchased the property in 1882. Sly also purchased the adjacent lot to the north in 1883[10].

The property was known as ‘Strathmore’ until 1902, when John Tyson Doneley purchased the house and 40 acres of land from the Slys and renamed it ‘Tyson Manor’. Tyson Doneley, according to French and Waterson in Darling Downs: A Pictorial History, had the Beauaraba Hotel built, around which a farmers’ service township grew in the 1880s.[11] Beauaraba was later to become known as Pittsworth. Tyson Doneley was a near relative of the millionaire pastoralist James Tyson.  James Tyson was born on April 11th, 1823, and with other graziers who Duncan Waterson in Squatter, Selector and Storekeeper, describes as “big men”, Tyson dominated the Darling Downs’ great export industries, such as sheep and cattle.[12] In 1905, Tyson Doneley built a second storey of brick to add to the bluestone portion, and a brick wing was built at the rear of the house, providing more accommodation for the family and for the entertainment of guests.  The second storey was designed by William Hodgen and built by J. France at a cost of 2,378 pounds.[13] 

The son of a building contractor, William Hodgen Jnr became a cadet in the Colonial Architect's Office in 1886. In 1891, he resigned and travelled to London to broaden his experience. He enrolled at the Architectural Association and worked for a variety of architects in London, becoming an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1895. He returned to Queensland in December 1896 and established his Toowoomba practice with an advertisement in the Darling Downs Gazette of 6 February 1897, announcing himself as a new Toowoomba architect.[14] Hodgen’s initial achievements include a major commission for Brisbane retailer, T.C. Beirne, and winning the competition to design a new wing of the Toowoomba Hospital in 1898.[15] Growth and development in both Toowoomba and the Downs and his own efficient work meant he soon had a busy and successful practice.

Whilst trained in Queensland, his London experiences and knowledge of the Arts and Crafts movement and Edwardian Classicism were expressed in some of his buildings. He tended to employ a ‘free’ style, modifying the prevailing Queensland vernacular by introducing individualist elements.[16] Hodgen’s architectural career spanned 46 years and he designed a large number of buildings varying from small cottages to more substantial residences, sporting facilities, halls and large complex hotels in Toowoomba and on the Darling Downs.[17] Notable designs include: Kensington for George Pitlow Merry [QHR 601322]; the third Toowoomba City Hall [QHR 600865]; the Toowoomba Permanent Building Society [QHR 600859]; Tor [QHR 601325]; Wislet [QHR 601324]; and the Hotel Corones [QHR 601282]. Remaining in practice with his sons until his death in 1943, he was the founder of an architectural dynasty.

The Tyson-Doneley family was one of Hodgen’s major clients; engaging him as architect for a total of eight new works, and nine alterations and additions.[18] Hodgen documented approximately 335 residential works[19] and Tyson Manor was one of his most substantial residential commissions. Other extensions to Tyson Manor designed by William Hodgen included a meat house, constructed by R. Hodgen in 1903 for a cost of £55.[20] A bush-house was formed as was an extensive water scheme.[21] Both of these structures no longer exist on the site.

Tyson Manor was the centre for many social gatherings. As a home to the Tyson Doneleys for 19 years, Tyson Manor ‘continued to be the most popular and hospitable rendezvous for the elite of Toowoomba and the Darling Downs, and many notable guests were entertained there, among them being Lord Northcote and Earl Dudley, during their terms as Governors-General of Australia’.[22] Tyson Doneley, described as an outstanding figure, a good Catholic and esteemed citizen, died in 1915.[23]

Following the death of her husband, Mrs Tyson Doneley assumed the responsibility of running the manor estate, along with the role of general manager of pastoral properties Devon Park, Yarrandine, Goondoola, Fairy Mount and Boondandilla.[24]

In 1921, Dr Alexander Horn acquired the property from the Tyson-Doneleys and named it ‘Craig Furth’.  Horn donated 30 acres of the property for a public park, and sold other portions of it with large acreage remaining.[25] The Corporation of the Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart purchased the property in 1930 for the purpose of establishing a college. Tyson Manor was occupied by Fr. Hyland, Fr. Smith and Br. South in September 1930, and the school was made ready for the arrival of the first students in 1931 by the addition of a large wooden dormitory (the old maternity wing of the Toowoomba General Hospital) relocated behind the main building and the construction of a modest chapel alongside.[26]

During WWII, Toowoomba became a military town and the Downlands College was utilised as a military hospital, accommodating the 117th General Hospital, Australian Medical Corps, between 1942 and 1943.[27]

Extensions to Tyson Manor have been constructed to the east (rear) and south of the building.  These extensions are connected with the use of the site as a secondary college and include the Hyland Wing (1934), comprising a dining room on the ground floor and a multi-purpose open-plan space on the top floor.  Also connected to Tyson Manor is Jubilee House (c1981), a single storey accommodation wing for members of the religious community. 

In 2018, the ground floor of Tyson Manor is utilised as a meeting space for Downlands College, and the first floor is a residence for members of the religious community.

Description

Tyson Manor is a two-storey bluestone and polychrome brick building, located within the grounds of Downlands College.

The building footprint comprises a square core (c1880 ground floor, 1905 first floor), with a two-storey wing (1905) to the east. The external walls of the original ground floor are bluestone, with sandstone quoining (painted). The first floor and wing extension are dark-brown, glazed, English bond face-brick, with contrasting brick quoining. The exterior stone and brickwork has tuck pointing and displays quoining to all corners of the building, around all windows and doors. A brickwork bay, with double-hung sash windows, protrudes from the ground floor on the north elevation.

The house has open verandahs on three sides. Verandahs on both levels are supported by slender columns with cast iron brackets, frieze and valance. The upper level verandah has a cast iron balustrade; with a timber boarded valance below. Former verandahs to the rear of the house are enclosed, clad with chamferboard and featuring timber framed casement windows. The corrugated metal clad roof is a complex design, with a single gable protruding from a simple pyramidal core on the western side, and a gable to the eastern extension. Four dark-brown brick chimneys, with contrasting quoining and terracotta chimney pots, are visible from the ground.

The front elevation is symmetrically composed, with the exception of the protruding gable and associated first floor fenestration at the northern end. The main entrance is centred and accentuated by a protruding bay. The panelled front door is surrounded by a quoined arch, with decorative panes of leadlight to the arched fanlight and sidelights. Windows are double-hung sashes, with six-panes to the upper sashes on the first floor.

Internally, much of the joinery and fittings dating from the alteration of the house in the early 20th century, are still evident. The entrance foyer displays coloured encaustic tiles on the floor and has a large timber staircase on the northern side with two flights accessing the first floor. The ground floor foyer leads onto a central hallway with timber doors accessing entertaining rooms on either side. The door from the rear of the ground floor hall leads to an enclosed space (former verandah) between the house and the attached school building to the rear. A staircase in the enclosed space provides access to the cellar below. The first floor is arranged with rooms off the central hallway, with a central door accessing the front verandah.

Ground floor rooms retain decorative pressed metal ceilings, and pressed metal dados feature in both the ground and first floor hallways. Fireplace surrounds vary, with decorative timber mantles to the ground floor and simple timber mantles to the first floor. The ground floor room to the rear of the 1905 extension has a tongue-and-groove lined ceiling, and retains evidence of a wide opening (possibly a fireplace) with carved timber surround.

Features not of significance in relation to the Tyson Manor building include: extensions attached to the south and east elevations (Hyland Wing and Jubilee House); clotheslines; metal antennae; recent pavers to footpaths, driveway and southeast yard; recent signs; and recent landscaping (hedges and shrubs).

References

[1] French, M. and D. Waterson, The Darling Downs: A Pictorial History 1850-1950, Darling Downs Institute Press, Toowoomba, 1982, p.130.
[2] French, M. and D. Waterson, p.130.
[3] QHR entry for ‘Toowoomba City Hall’, QHR ID 600865.
[4] QHR entry for ‘Gladstone House and Cottage’, QHR ID 601303.
[5] Hayes , Rev Father Leo, ‘Antecedents of Downlands. Link with History.’ In Downlands Magazine, 1946, p.15; Lomas, D. ‘Downlands’, In School ties: a history of private schooling in Toowoomba, McNally, P. (ed). Darling Downs Institute Press, 1989, p.185; Mooney, J.F. Downlands the First Fifty Years, Downlands College, 1981, Toowoomba. p.16.
[6] Marriage Notice in The Brisbane Courier, Monday 14 May 1877, p.2.
[7] Certificate of Title No 18479, Register Book Volume: 137 Folio: 226, dated 1868, DNRM.
[8] Certificate of Title No 18478, Register Book Volume: 137 Folio: 225, dated 1868, DNRM.
[9] Certificate of Title No 18479.
[10] New Title No 15243,  noted in Certificate of Title No 36977, Register Book Volume: 251 Folio: 229, dated 30 May 1883, DNRM.
[11] French, M. and D. Waterson, p.186.
[12] Waterson, D. Squatter, Selector and Storekeeper: a history of the Darling Downs, 1859-93. 1968, p.53.
[13] Battams, A. The Life and Work of William Hodgen Junior (1867 – 1943). Unpublished Thesis, University of Queensland. 1988, p.94.
[14] Darling Downs Gazette, 6 February 1897, p.2.
[15] Watson, D. and J. McKay. Queensland Architects of the 19th Century. A Bibliographical Dictionary Queensland Museum: Brisbane. 1994, p. 97-98.
[16] Battams, A. p.39.
[17] Battams, A. p.30.
[18] Battams, A. p.30.
[19] Battams, A. p.42.
[20] Battams, A. p.92.
[21] The decorative timber bush-house is evident in early photographs displayed in Tyson Manor. The design of these later works has been attributed to prominent Toowoomba architectural firm, James Marks & Son.   
[22] ‘History of Tyson Manor, Now Downlands College’, in Catholic Leader, 5/3/1931 or 1934.
[23] Hayes , Rev Father Leo. p.15.
[24] Hely, E. ‘Mrs Tyson Doneley: Her Home and Her Interests’ Sydney Mail, Wednesday 4 April 1917, p.23.
[25] Hayes , Rev Father Leo. p.16.
[26] Lomas, D. p.185.
[27] French, M. and D. Waterson, p.221 and 240.

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