Annerley: Churches, Houses and Local History

Annerley tells its story through specific places: a striking fig tree stands on Ipswich Road, alongside churches and homes dating from different decades.

A Fig Tree on Ipswich Road

A striking fig tree stands on the embankment in front of the Annerley Junction Hotel. It is the last remaining tree on Ipswich Road from a series of beautification measures undertaken in the early 20th century. As a local landmark, it connects today’s streetscape with that earlier initiative.

Churches in Timber and Brick

Annerley Uniting Church opened on 28 June 1925 as Cracknell Road Congregational Church. The small, intact timber church is designed in the Interwar Gothic style. A different building material and a different sense of scale characterise Mary Immaculate Catholic Church: the large, polychrome brick church was opened by Archbishop Duhig in 1932. Its intact architecture and landmark status make it another important example of this style in Annerley.

The church of the Apostolic Church of Queensland is older. This timber-and-corrugated-iron building in the Carpenter Gothic style opened in 1888 and served as a Methodist church until 1973; since then, it has been used as an Apostolic church. Together, the three buildings show different materials and periods: from timber and corrugated iron in the late 19th century to the small timber church and large brick building of the interwar years.

Homes with Their Own Stories

Cockerill is a timber-and-corrugated-iron home built around 1905. The house was associated with members of the Cockerill family from 1865 to 1941. Its history reflects both the prosperity of Young Street in the early 20th century and Annerley’s residential development at the time. It complements the churches by offering a glimpse of how people lived and how the area changed.

Runnymede was built in 1934 for Robert David Young and his wife, Marie Florence Young. The architect was Horace Driver. As an interwar home, it extends the period covered by the Annerley examples.

Explore Local History on Foot

The Annerley-Stephens History Group currently offers the local history walking tour “Heart of Stephens, Annerley” and the self-guided walk “Fanny Street Annerley”. You can discover local history on the “Heart of Stephens, Annerley” walking tour or explore “Fanny Street Annerley” on your own. Check before making plans to see whether both are still available.

The walks take a different approach from the individual buildings, exploring local history on foot. When choosing a holiday rental, you can consider whether a stay focused on architecture and local history suits your travel plans.

A Look at Brisbane’s Building History

In the wider regional context, 40 Cronin Street is a rare surviving example of an Anzac Cottage in Brisbane. The house was built in 1920 as part of the Anzac Cottage and TB Homes scheme, an initiative of the Queensland War Council under the Anzac Committee. The programme initially aimed to provide homes for the widows and dependants of soldiers killed in the First World War and was later extended to include dependants of soldiers who had contracted tuberculosis. The homes were funded by the Queensland Lottery, known as the “Golden Casket”, donated land and volunteer labour. Thirty-eight Anzac Cottages were built in Brisbane; many have not survived. This history broadens the focus from individual Annerley homes to a wider social housing initiative.

The history presented here spans buildings from the 1888 church and the interwar years to the Anzac Cottages. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Annerley, these different themes can help you decide whether you would like to focus your stay on architecture and local history.

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For the main travel overview: Queensland.