160-year-old historic stone cottage for sale for first time in decades

ABC Capricornia

Topic: History

Wiseman's Cottage is the last remaining structure of the original residence of William Henry Wiseman.

In short:

Wiseman's Cottage was built in 1857 as a storage room for Mount Athelstane.

The stone building has stood the test of time, surrounded by a family home, gardens and a pool.

What's next?

The property on which the heritage building sits is for sale for the first time in 20 years.

In the backyard of a family home in the hills of Rockhampton's southside stands a tall stone cottage with roots that go back to the very foundation of the city.

Wiseman's Cottage is the last remaining structure of Mount Athelstane, the 16-room timber home built for William Henry Wiseman.

The story of Wiseman's Cottage is displayed on the wall inside.

The property has changed hands many times over the past 150 years and is now back on the market for the first time since 2004.

Real estate agent Noel Livingston said the heritage value was a strong selling point.

The original home was demolished after white ants destroyed the timber frame, and a new house was built in the 1950s, around the cottage.

The cottage has been preserved in accordance with heritage listing guidelines.

Once used as storage for stone gathered on the property, the cottage was transformed into a gift shop in the 1970s.

"We can't afford to build them like this anymore," Mr Livingston said.

"This is made of stone and put together in 1857 and is still in rock-solid condition."

The house built in front of Wiseman's Cottage was added years later, around the heritage structure.

A rich history in Rockhampton

Charles and William Archer came to the region in 1853, settling a sheep station in Gracemere.

In September 1858, gold was discovered at Canoona, near Rockhampton, and 15,000 people descended on the area hoping to strike it lucky.

The following month, Mr Wiseman, as land commissioner, and Charles Archer, as the original settler, were asked by the government to find a suitable site on the Fitzroy River for the township.

Mr Wiseman chose the name after the characteristics of the township, with the rocks alongside the Fitzroy River, and Hampton being the English word for a small village.

A photograph of Rockhampton from the Fitzroy River with Quay Street circa 1920s.

While he was in town, Mr Wiseman did more work, including as a police magistrate.

"He used to give lectures in the School of Arts; he was instrumental in the formation of the School of Arts," Dr Webster said.

"He was active in the Benevolent Society and, when he died in 1871, he was buried in the southside cemetery."

The first building constructed in the township was a store in 1857.

The hotel was later demolished and a new building was constructed around 1889 on the site, as the Criterion Hotel.

"It's the only one that's still serving its original purpose," Dr Webster said.

"As the nature of Rockhampton's economy has changed, the purpose of these buildings has changed."

Along Quay Street, which borders the Fitzroy River on the central business district side, there are 19 state heritage-listed buildings.

"Quay Street reflects Rockhampton's early economic, social and cultural activity," Dr Webster said.

"There weren't just wharves, customs house, harbour board [buildings that still exist today], there were warehouses, banks, Rockhampton Club for gentlemen, hotels, a couple of doctors built their premises there."

Heritage not a deterrent to buyers

The port of Rockhampton along the Fitzroy River in 1926.

Rockhampton holds the largest collection of state heritage-listed buildings in regional Queensland, with 78 properties in the local government area.

A heritage listing could sometimes come with a negative connotation, but Mr Livingstone dismissed that idea.

"Most of our heritage-listed buildings are commercial buildings, a lot of them are along the riverbank, and you don't really see many efforts to change those external appearances because they look so great," he said.

"We only have half a dozen houses that are heritage listed, and I've seen them turn over through the years I've been in real estate without any problem at all."

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