Francis Lookout

General

Also known as

Francis Outlook

Classification

State Heritage

Register status

Entered

Date entered

7 September 2004

Type

Burial ground: Cemetery—private

Theme

1.4 Peopling places: Family and marking the phases of life

Construction period

1863–1966, Francis Lookout (1863 - 1966)

Historical period

1840s–1860s Mid-19th century

Location

Address

157 Dewar Terrace, Corinda

LGA

Brisbane City Council

Coordinates

-27.53679074, 152.97642486

Significance

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

Francis Lookout is important in illustrating the pattern of Queensland's history, being rare surviving evidence of the mid and late 19th century development of the Corinda area as a farming community. In its strong association with the Francis family from 1862 and beyond, the place is also illustrative of the contributions made by individuals to the evolution of Queensland's history.

Criterion BThe place demonstrates rare, uncommon or endangered aspects of Queensland’s cultural heritage.

The place is a rare privately established burial ground in the Brisbane area, and has the potential to reveal further information about the settlement of the Corinda district, about 19th and early 20th century burial practices, and about the contingencies of pioneering life.

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

The place illustrates some of the principal characteristics of a small privately established burial ground, including a lack of denominational divisions and the locally connected interments - especially the graves of the family on whose land the ground was established, and of their neighbours. Its layout and funerary furniture are indicative of 19th century cemeteries.

Criterion EThe place is important because of its aesthetic significance.

The hilltop setting of Francis Outlook with its panoramic views of Brisbane and as an example of a well considered timber framed lychgate, Francis Outlook is important because of its aesthetic significance.

History

Francis Lookout is an area of parkland located on a prominent hilltop site in Corinda. It contains burials from between 1862 and 1966. The Francis family, one of the first families to settle in the Corinda area bought 21 acres, Portion 120, in 1862, which extended from the Brisbane River up to the present location of Francis Lookout. They also bought 33 acres which extended from Oxley creek to the present Sherwood Road.

The Graves

Their cemetery was dedicated when their youngest son, Clement, died in 1863. One acre was dedicated for this purpose as there was no municipal cemetery in the district. The last of the family to be buried here was Mary Francis, wife of the Francis' eldest son, Dick, in 1937.

Other graves in the cemetery include; the Jones grave, the Dunlop grave, the Clarkson grave, the Walker grave, the Gray grave and two unlocated burials.

The Lychgate

According to Alex Francis, his mother, Angela Francis, erected the lychgate for her husband and the elaborate barge boards were carved by her friends. A small bronze plaque reads 'ERECTED BY ANGELA FRANCIS 1902'.

The Lychgate has a gable roof that was originally covered with timber shingles. These were replaced with concrete tiles in 1962, but have again been replaced with timber shingles. East and West gables are infilled with weatherboards. The original timber floor has been replaced with at least two concrete slabs.

In 1930, the Brisbane City Council took direct control of thirteen of Brisbane's cemeteries. At this time Frances Lookout was under the control of trustees. One of these, George Waugh approached the council with the request the council take over the cemetery, on the condition of the trustees waiving all claims to compensation and that the council would undertake to properly care for the cemetery in perpetuity.

Formal council resumption occurred in 1934. Improvements and repairs to the cemetery occurred in 1935-36 and were as follows:

· the erection of a low fence on the road boundaries;

· repair and painting of the picturesque shelter shed;

· straightening and adjusting of the existing fence enclosing the graves;

· the provision of a suitable name board on the reserve.

Description

The parkland is called Francis Lookout and is located on the corner of Dewar Terrace and Hilda Street, Corinda. The park was previously used as a private cemetery and still contains several memorials. A timber lychgate was constructed in 1902.

The park is in a significant hilltop position with panoramic views of Brisbane, especially towards Mt Coot-tha. The site sits at 50m high, and is in the mid-range of Brisbane lookout heights.

The Lookout is a local landmark, being prominent in the urban landscape of the Corinda area as well as from the cross-river area of Fig Tree Pocket. The site is generally an open, grassed and reasonably level knoll, gently falling away to the northwest corner.

The boundary fence is white painted 100mm x 75mm hardwood intermediate posts set in the ground with a 100mm x 100mm diamond profile top rail and two strands of wire. Entry and corner posts are generally 125mm x 125mm with a chamfered apex.

The collection of eucalypts is especially significant, as they represent a community type that is found exclusively on rock outcrops at higher altitudes. There is also a significant bunya pine, which appears to have been planted 40 - 60 years ago.

The site contains 10 known graves and one unlocated grave. The five Francis family graves are situated together and surrounded by a white painted fence. The other graves are located to the northern side of this and scattered in a seemingly random way.

The lychgate is a small timber structure supported on 100mm x 100mm posts with a gable roof covered by timber shingles. The floor of the structure is concrete.

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