“Bowerlea”

Superb Brockwell Gill Bungalow restored to perfection. Impressive street appeal makes this landmark property iconic to the entrance of Queens Park. With great pride the current owners have spent 5 years meticulously restoring this architect designed master piece to its former grandeur. Trade mark Brockwell Gill silky oak doors and windows have been fully restored including all 80 windows stripped and leadlight restored. For those who appreciate quality design and elegance this home will delight you from the gorgeous original tessellated tile entry to the expansive deep verandahs ideal for alfresco dining overlooking Queens Park and enjoying North Easterly aspect which is accessed from all living areas and bedrooms. The trademark Brockwell Gill silky oak – leadlight entry opens to the formal living area featuring timber arch with pot stands adorned with a full width leadlight feature inset and topped off with ornate horse hair plaster ceiling. These delightful ceilings feature throughout. Enjoy meal making in the homey art deco kitchen with original brick tiles lining the stove recess and splash back. Massive gas stove is a cooks dream. The renovated laundry adjoins the kitchen for convenience. All bedrooms feature ornate plaster ceilings and 2 of the 3 are built in. Painted in tasteful colours the house is dressed by devine hedged garden rooms and rolling lawns, fully fenced for pet safety and to cap it off a discreet chicken coop in the corner. Walk to CBD, schools and rail. A rare opportunity to own a spectacular piece of real estate.
Bowerlea is an elegant Queensland timber variation of a Californian Bungalow built for Florence Beatrice Fox and her daughter, Eleanor, in 1929. Florence Fox was the widow of well-known Ipswich Chemist, William Fox and one of the many daughters of the 1910-1911 mayor of Ipswich, Maurice Bowers. The name Bowerlea paid homage to Bowerbank in Ellenborough Street, the house William and Florence Fox has constructed in the early years of the Twentieth Century. In turn, both names hint at the connection with the Bowers family, residents of Ipswich since the 1860’s.
Bowerlea was designed by noted Ipswich architect George Brockwell Gill and constructed by the builder HE Wildey. In 1930 the A & B journal of Queensland noted that the Wunderlich title roof ‘adds the finishing touch of distinction to the whole design’. London trained GB Gill, who worked as an architect in Ipswich between 1886 and his retirement in 1943, was responsible for some of the grander commercial and residential buildings in Ipswich. He also designed Bowerbank for William and Florence around the time of World War 1. Its connection to this architect contributes to the significance of Bowerlea.
Hood detail is a feature of the elevation of Bowerlea that addresses Milford Street, with the detail of the hood over one of the bay windows repeated in the hood over the formal entrance. Other features of the house include silky oak windows, doors and a featured arch way, 80 leadlight panels, 2 bay windows, one of which is semi circular, and horse hair plaster ceilings.