Located on the east bank of the Brisbane River in the suburb Wacol is the historial Wolston House, a heritage-listed residential farmhouse from the nineteenth century. At the end of August, our research team visited the house as it represents a unique historic site that documents life in the beginning of free settlement in the area.

The original farmhouse is located at 223 Grindle Road in Wacol, around 18 km south-west of Brisbane CBD. The estate was established in 1852 by Dr. Stephen Simpson, Crown Lands Commissioner and later Police Magistrate and Member of the Legislative Council for the Moreton Pastoral District. Named after his Warwickshire birthplace, he constructed the farmhouse, planned the garden, and built a horse and cattle station.

Read more: Dr. Stephen Simpson biography entry

In the 1860s, the Goggs family took over and expanded the estate.

Wolston Farmhouse was acquired by the National Trust of Australia in 1963 and has since been restored. The extensive reconstruction represents the enormous effort and commitment to the conservation of Queensland’s history.