Queenslander

The Queenslander is a style of detached house that developed in Queensland, Australia, from the 1840s and is still built in modified form. It is a timber house raised on stumps, wrapped by verandahs and covered by a steeply pitched corrugated iron roof. Its "tin and timber" character defines older suburbs of Brisbane and many regional towns.

Roof

Corrugated steel (commonly called corrugated iron) is the most characteristic roof covering. It suits the climate because it handles heavy subtropical rain well, is light enough for timber framing, and can be refixed or reused after cyclone damage. Roofs were traditionally steeply pitched and often gabled, with separate, lower roofs over the verandahs.

Ventilation was built into the roof and ceilings. Fanlights over doors, decorative ceiling roses and aligned doors and windows encouraged airflow, and rotating roof ventilators ("whirlybirds") were added to draw hot air from the roof space. Analysis has found that these passive measures work best only in certain northern conditions and that some Queenslanders can be hotter inside than expected.

Raised floors and verandahs

Houses stand on stumps, originally timber, whose height varies with the slope of the site. Raising the floor helps with flooding, termites and uneven ground and allows air beneath the house. Verandahs run partly or fully around the house and serve as living space; many were later enclosed to add rooms.

Development

Timber became the dominant building material in Queensland after 1900. Kit homes "ready to erect" appeared around 1915, and standardised designs spread in the 1920s and 1930s. The style fell out of favour after the Second World War, when brick veneer houses became more common.

Context

Corrugated galvanised iron, patented in Britain in 1829, became common in Australia from the 1840s and remains a widespread roofing material in the country, including in cities. The Queenslander is its best-known domestic expression.

Heritage

Many older houses have been demolished, especially in inner Brisbane, prompting local councils to introduce character and conservation controls. Some houses are lifted and relocated rather than demolished.