The Different Spaces of the Queensland House

A fashionable middle-class drawing room at Yeronga about 1900 (John Oxely Library)

The drawing room was the most important room, where visitors gained an impression of the standing of the owner. During the 1880s, drawing rooms became more decorative and splendid, aiming for a soft, elegant, harmonious effect. This was a feminine space – the preserve of the wife.

By contrast, the desired impression in the dining room was of formal dignity and even grandeur. This was the domain of the husband as host and man of the house.

The main bedroom was another feminine space, decorated in delicate pastels, with an emphasis on comfort and prettiness.

The utilitarian kitchen, about1900s (John Oxley Library)

Service rooms, on the other hand, were severely practical in their presentation.

The kitchen was usually a simple undecorated room, while the bathroom was often no more than a built-in corner of the back verandah or beneath the house.