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| Gooloowan |
| This Queensland mansion is steeped in history. |
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Around eight years ago, Graham and Genevieve Isbell and their six children moved to Gooloowan, an historical mansion in Ipswich, Queensland, built in 1864. Situated on a hillside (“Gooloowan” is an Aboriginal name meaning “house on the hill”), this two-story house is set on a 1.75 acre block which includes the original sweeping circular drive and beautiful gardens.
The stately six bedroom home was originally built for local retailer Benjamin Cribb. After his death it was passed down and lived in by four generations of the Cribb family. They had some difficulty selling the home. Apparently, buyers were turned off at the thought of having to fill the numerous rooms with their furniture. As a final bid to attract buyers, the Cribb family included their antique furniture with the sale, which remains in the home to this day.
After the Isbells bought Gooloowan, it was painted inside and out, with damaged carpets removed, the kitchen and bathroom renovated, a conservatory added and the property fenced. An architect was consulted in order to preserve the original style of the home.
Genevieve has always enjoyed collecting antiques and believes in using them, instead of just leaving them on display. Most of their precious china, books, and antique furniture are used in everyday living. In the library they thumb through books from the 1850s, in the drawing room they relax on period furniture and in the bathrooms they shower in one of the metre deep cast-iron baths in the ladies’ or gentlemen’s bathrooms (no mixed amenities in those days).
An internal pulley lift (installed for the use of a disabled Cribbs family member) is still used, as is the cellar, the detached billiard room and a huge underground water tank. Linen is kept in a cupboard in the former servants quarters, which include shelves marked by the original maids: “towles for use” (note “Old English” spelling). Personal effects are kept in an antique chest of drawers, made by undertaker George Dowden in 1850.
There is a large dining room for special occasions, a “morning” room (ladies sewing crafts, etc), a breakfast room for informal “tea breaks” and a drawing room for evening family dinners. In summer, the conservatory is the preferred dining area. A second storey verandah wraps around the front and sides of the house, with most of the bedrooms enjoying views to Cunningham’s Gap and the Border Ranges beyond. The main bedroom has a fireplace and includes a sitting room area and two dressing rooms, complete with separate sinks.
A separate billiard room was built at the back of the house by one of the Cribb’s familiy, about 80 years ago. (Apparently the father of the household was worried his boys were becoming unruly, so the billiard room was built to entertain them).
The servants quarters, reached via a narrow corridor on the upper level and by steep steps off the kitchen area, are now mainly used by guests. Genevieve says she loves the thought that their family is keeping history alive and considers their role as that of a caretaker. According to her, “there is so much history here, it makes you realise we are all just passing through.”
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