The Federation Queenslander

Big, bold and beautifully ornate, 1901 – 1914

The Federation style Queenslander, originally built between 1900 and start of World War I, has been commonly referred to as the Australian version of the English Edwardian house. You can appreciate that the time of Australia’s Federation filled many colonials with a sense of national pride and significant financial gain for a burgeoning class of traders, bureaucrats and professionals.

Key features of Federation style Queenslanders include:

• detailed fretwork in the roof gables
• high ceilings – often 14 foot
• ornate lead lighting in the front windows, featuring geometric and curvilinear shapes and sometimes native plants or birds
• bull-nosed weatherboards
• Houses were generally on timber stumps
• the main roof often swept down in one unbroken across the verandah
  bay windows were increasing common
• Joinery such as windows, doors, architraves and skirtings featured increasing use of Queensland pine due to unavailability of Australian Cedar

Federation Style Reproductions

Garth Chapman established Garth Chapman Queenslanders in 1988 after recognising a need in the market for a quality builder of authentic new Queenslander homes.