Queen Alexandra Home
For as long as I can remember, my family has told me I have dark eyes and hair like my Nanna Winnie, my great-grandmother. She was a petite, gentle lady who loved flowers and tea. What has always fascinated me is that she grew up in Queen Alexandra Home, a home for children. Situated at 347 Old Cleveland Road, Coorparoo, the building is termed ‘the grand old lady of lace’. Throughout my growing up years, whenever we drove past, I would wistfully look out the window and imagine my Nanna Winnie living there as a little girl. The stately home has always captivated my imagination.
Winifred was born in 1909 and the third of four daughters. Their mother died when the girls were still little, so their bereaved father divided them up and kept working. The older two girls went to different relatives, the younger two he kept together and sent to a home for children. Winifred was about five years of age, and her sister Eileen about three years of age when they joined the home in 1914. This story is reminiscent of an Australian Little Women, set right here in our own Brisbane in its founding days.
Deirdre, who works for the Department of Education, is the current Facilities Coordinator and she agreed to meet with me and allow me to shoot inside the home, which has been a dream of mine for many years. Deirdre took us on a tour in 2017 so when I started this blog, I thought a Queen Alexandra Home post would be such a great feature. After my shoot this year, Deirdre put me in touch with Jinx Miles, a Conservation Architect, and Judy Gale Rechner, a local historian and author. Judy wrote the book ‘Grand old lady of lace’ in 2002. It is the reference for my history on Queen Alexandra Home. Jinx was the heritage consultant for the most recent restoration of the home in 2019. It was so fantastic to meet them and get their insights on the home and its history.
Queen Alexandra Home’s history begins with Reuben Nicklin. Reuben emigrated to Australia in 1865. He married Jane Lahey and they had three children: George, born 1868, Alice, born 1870 and William, born 1872. Reuben’s business dealings went well. He was the manager of a firm of importers and a landowner. He commissioned various buildings around Brisbane to be built, including his home Langlands, in Coorparoo. At that time, Coorparoo was a rural district. Can you imagine today’s bustling inner-city suburb of Coorparoo being acres of farmland?! In about 1887, Langlands was sold and eventually became the centre of Villanova College.
Reuben purchased six and a half acres further along Old Cleveland Road. This was to become the site of Hatherton (later Queen Alexandra Home), their new family home, which was built in 1887. It sat on the crest of a hill, right next door to Coorparoo State School. It is true that men of stature lived on hilltops, but Reuben and Jane Nicklin were no toffs. They were devoted to the growing city of Brisbane and its people. Jane was known as a tireless worker in social and religious work, and she visited the sick with gifts of food. Reuben was known as a modest man, and was well-liked by his associates and employees. He provided tennis courts and a cricket pitch on Hatherton’s grounds at his own expense for local youths to enjoy.
In time, George and William joined the family businesses. George’s son, Sir Frank Nicklin, would become one of Queensland’s premiers in the 1950’s. Alice Nicklin had fallen in love with a local fellow, William Horsley. She was 19, and her parents weren’t too keen on the match. Reuben decided to travel home to England and include an eight-month tour of Europe and America. He and Jane hoped this time apart would cool Alice’s feelings for William. The three boarded the RMS Quetta in February 1890. Only ten days after their departure, while navigating the waters off the Torres Strait, the ship sank. Tragically, Reuben and Jane died. Alice survived. She was a strong swimmer, and clung to various things, including a dead sheep, until she was rescued. She returned home to her brothers after a stay in hospital. Queensland was in shock after the tragedy. Many of the passengers were well known figures in the area. In 1894, Alice married William Horsley and they had six children together. Members of the Nicklin and Lahey family lived in the home until the turn of the century, upon which it was rented to various individuals.
The Methodist church set up a home for children in Indooroopilly in 1909. The object of the home ‘was to provide a home for children who needed its shelter and provision, and subsequently endeavour to place them with families and employers who will train them for a career of usefulness’. Some children were orphans, but the home was not an orphanage. It was designed for children who could not be cared for at their home.
The Ladies Committee who ran the home was formed in 1910. These women were the daughters and wives of wealthy, prominent men, so they did not work secularly and had the time to devote to charitable causes. They were an extremely hard-working group, who tirelessly raised money for the benefit of the home for decades. The home at Indooroopilly was named Queen Alexandra Home, after King Edward VII’s beloved wife. Within a few months, it became evident that the home was too small and too far away from public transport for visitors, so they set about looking for another location.
The Nicklin family had put Hatherton up for sale and some members of the Ladies Committee visited. It was a suitable size and in a good location for visitors. There was plenty of space to play, grow produce and keep cows. It was also above flood level and caught the breeze. It was priced at £2,500. George, Alice and William agreed to a donation of £500 for the worthy cause, so the price was reduced to £2000. The Ladies Committee gratefully accepted and the move in date for the new Queen Alexandra Home was set for the 30th November, 1911. With Coorparoo State School being right next door, the children only had to cross a lane to get to school. On Sundays the children would walk around the corner to Cavendish Road and attend church and Sunday School. My Nanna Winnie got married in that church years later.
The cost of board, or maintenance fee, was a set weekly rate. Most applicants were fathers whose wives were sick or had died. The Ladies Committee required a character reference and proof of ability to pay the maintenance fee. Some families could not afford the weekly rate but still needed their children in care. In special cases, the ladies accepted a lower maintenance fee for these children. The ladies ran the home in a businesslike fashion, but were sensitive to people’s plight and genuinely wanted to help.
Each year, the Methodist church would host a Sunday School picnic. The children loved these events. The ladies made the most of the opportunity and had cakes, fresh produce and refreshments on sale for fundraising purposes. My Nanna Winnie remembered these garden parties with great fondness.
The children were required to pitch in and complete chores around the home. Nanna Winnie remembered scrubbing the internal wooden stairs. That is how a staff so small accomplished so much - the children had to help. When my Nanna (Winifred’s daughter) saw my photo of the internal staircase she said: “Imagine how many kids have slid down that railing!” I chuckled to read in the book that Sister Mabel used to delight the children by routinely sliding down that very banister!
In 1911, the State Children’s Act was introduced which specified that children attend school until they turned 13, when they could be apprenticed or employed. The child was to receive pocket money, and the remainder of their owed funds were held in trust until they turned 21. Boys were generally sent to work in rural areas, and girls to work in private homes. Any mistress who wanted to take on a girl was vetted to ensure she would not work the girl too hard, treat her badly or feed her inadequately. Some girls who grew up in the home decided to stay and work there once they came of age.
The cost of a cot (child’s bed) was £5. One girl after coming of age and receiving her bank book paid for a cot as a token of ‘appreciation of the shelter and care given to her and her five brothers and sisters’. That story really touched me and speaks volumes about how the children felt about their childhood there. At garden parties when guests visited the home, the cots were made sure to be clean and the donor’s name clearly visible.
Visiting for parents, relatives or friends was strictly on Saturdays. An older lady named Mrs Petfield would occasionally come to stay, doing sewing and mending. She was affectionately known as Grandma Petfield. The children generally liked the staff and Matrons too. Winnie and Eileen loved their Matron so much they wanted their father to marry her! The timing puts this as Matron Horsley, sister of William Horsley, who married Alice Nicklin.
Winnie and Eileen’s eldest sister was sent to live with wealthy relatives up north. Consequently, she had beautiful dresses, ribbons and dolls. When she would see the little ones that were in the home, Winnie would say: “When you’re finished with that, can I have it?” Most of the time though they made do with handmade clothes peg dolls. On the weekend their father would visit and bring a little gift. One time, he brought a chocolate for his daughters. Winnie saw him but Eileen was away playing. Winnie ate her half and set out to find her sister. By the time she found her, the chocolate was melted in her hand but Eileen licked it right off. Isn’t that such a sweet story of the closeness of the two sisters?
In 1918, the decision was made to add an extension to the home to allow for more children. The ladies increased their fundraising efforts and Matron encouraged the children to play concerts in the suburbs to raise money for the building fund. The Ladies Committee specifically requested that the new wing be set back about three feet to pay homage to the original house. They wanted the new part to be easily recognisable. The Spanish flu delayed work on the new wing, but in October 1919, the Prime Minister unveiled the memorial stone. The new wing allowed more dormitories to be added so more children could be accommodated. Another of Nanna Winnie’s stories that she passed down was that little Eileen wasn’t allowed to have water past a certain time at night, because she was prone to wetting the bed. But she got so thirsty! So her big sister Winnie filled her mouth up with water at the tap on the verandah and squirted it into her little sister’s mouth. These two had a very close bond and it is true that they were fortunate to have each other to cling to.
Around 1921, the isolation ward was built and proved vital in the prevention of sickness during the Bubonic plague, and waves of other children’s diseases such as measles, chicken pox, influenza and polio. Alterations and renovations were undertaken in 1937 and there was a special garden party on 27 November which the Governor attended to reopen the home. During WWII, the children were evacuated to the country for their safety. In 1942, while the children were away, Queen Alexandra Home became Somerville House for a time. Schoolgirls attended their classes there. The staff and children of Queen Alexandra Home returned in 1945 and it continued to operate as a children’s home until 9th September 1960. The government purchased it and it became a Domestic Science Centre, teaching women dressmaking, millinery, cake icing, cookery and floral art. Later on, bakery and pottery classes were introduced. In 1977 it became a Tafe. In 1986, more renovations were completed and it became a community centre. Now it is used by the Department of Education.
Most of the children after they had grown up described Queen Alexandra Home as a happy place, and for this I couldn’t be more grateful. During the 20th century, about 500,000 children experienced life inside an Australian home for children. One hears horrific stories about abuse in orphanages and children’s homes. My Nanna, Mum and myself went to the exhibition Inside: Life in Children’s Homes and Institutions when it was at the Queensland Museum in 2014. It was utterly heartbreaking, and very confronting. I am so disgusted that the neglect and abuse happened to innocent, vulnerable children in care. But I am pleased that finally their stories are being heard, believed and put into the light. My Nanna Winnie’s memories were pleasant and she never shared any bad experiences. The Ladies Committee and staff worked hard to care for the children and made sure they were nurtured. Life in the home was not luxury, but the children were fed, clothed, educated and jobs found for them when they were old enough. In the book ‘Grand old lady of lace’, there is the story of one girl who didn’t have happy memories. No doubt there were difficult times and children who did not enjoy their time at the home. That is to be expected. However, I’m glad that for the most part, Queen Alexandra Home was a happy place.
The following are historic photos available online from the John Oxley Library.
Queen Alexandra Home in 1911 at the time of its sale to the Methodist Church
The Ladies Committee in 1913
Matron and children circa 1917
Matron, Sisters and children circa 1919
Matron McLaren on the ground floor verandah, 1920
The Home after the extension - notice how the extension was set back approximately three feet
Garden party on the grounds of Queen Alexandra Home, 1921
Governor Sir Leslie Orme Wilson unveiling the new memorial gates after renovations in 1937. Look at all the beautiful ladies in hats!
Things have changed a lot over the years but its original glory is well preserved. The most substantial renovations were undertaken in 1919, 1937, 1961, 1986 and 2019. One of Deirdre’s stories from the 2019 renovation is brilliant. While doing excavation work under the floorboards of the Kingsbury Room, bones were discovered! Deirdre rang the police. The conversation went a little something like this:
“We found bones!”
“Mmm hmm.”
“Under a heritage building…”
“Mmm hmm.”
“They’d be over 100 years old…”
“Mmm hmm.”
“It used to be a home for children.”
“OK WE’LL BE THERE IN TEN MINUTES!”
You can imagine the haste of the police once they knew its history. Deirdre said the site was a crime scene for an hour until they were discovered to be cow bones!
Jinx showed me a secret room which was amazing. On the verandah there is a door that opens to what seems to be a small cupboard. There are stairs inside that once led up to the Matron’s room! It has sections of paint from the 1800’s, from when the Nicklins’ resided there. I do love a time capsule in a cupboard…
Please enjoy the following gallery of my photos taken at Queen Alexandra Home in May 2022. Use the arrows to flick through the images.
Unfortunately, none of the furniture, artwork or items that are in the home now belonged to the family. They are all recent additions. There is one painting of interest though.
This gorgeous piece is called Monday Morning and was painted by Vida Lahey in 1912. She was a relation of Jane Lahey, wife of Reuben Nicklin. The original hangs in the Queensland Art Gallery and a copy sits in one of the rooms at Queen Alexandra Home. I loved this painting long before I knew that it had a connection to the home. I bought a postcard from the gallery years ago with this print on it. It is on my bedroom wall with prints of other artwork I love. Now that I know its connection with Queen Alexandra Home, it is even more special to me.
It has been a wonderful journey compiling this blog post. From initial contact with Deirdre, to photographing the home, to meetings with Deirdre, Jinx and Judy and writing this story- my expectations for this project have been exceeded. Thank you to these amazing women and also the Department of Education for allowing me to carry out my creative vision.
This journey has enriched my portrait of Nanna Winnie and I have learnt so much about what life was like for different people in one home over many decades. May Queen Alexandra Home always be the jewel of Old Cleveland Road and a treasured Brisbane icon.
Nanna Winnie married and had three daughters and loved her family very much. She met my Mum but unfortunately she and I just missed each other. She died in 1997 and I was born in 1999. It is my dearest wish to one day meet her in paradise and she can tell me all about her childhood at Queen Alexandra Home.
Thank you for reading and sharing in this journey with me.
Kate x