Lucerne on Fernberg

Lucerne is a heritage-listed property in Paddington, Brisbane the capital city of Queensland, Australia. It was built between 1859 and 1862 and is believed to be the oldest privately owned residence in Brisbane.

History

The builder and first owner of Lucerne was James Young, a bricklayer who worked as a foreman for John Petrie, the then Mayor of Brisbane. Young acquired 6 acres (24,000 m²), 2 roods of land at Milton, adjoining what later became Bishopsbourne, by deed of grant dated 22 August 1859.

By the early 1870s, Young was renting the house to John Guthrie, a solicitor credited with naming the property "Lucerne", after the lake and town in Switzerland.

A clue as to why Guthrie saw similarities is in the nature of the terrain; a steep sided watercourse would have bisected the property. To provide it with fresh water it may have been dammed, hence a lake or pond would have formed. On the western or opposite side of the property was Red Jacket Swamp, now the sports ground and park for Milton State School. By mid-1883 Lucerne was in the possession of Agnes, wife of John Scott M.L.A. Scott resided there until his death in 1898. The property remained in the hands of his heirs until it was sold in 1905.

Current building

Today, "Lucerne" comprises four buildings, used to provide bed and breakfast accommodation, within half an acre of land dominated by a large Port Jackson fig tree. The gabled brick main building with its high-pitched roof and dormer window is a rare survivor in contemporary Brisbane.

Sources

• "Place ID 8379". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government.
• "Lucerne". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council.