A Heritage Success for Coopers Plains

History Group & Dutch Australia Cultural Centre

On August 29th, 2025, a park in the centre of the Cornerstone Living development was renamed “Dutch Houses Park” to mark the Dutch migrant and public housing history of the area. The park on McKoy Street now has a history board installed with the following inscription:

A representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Honorary Consul Mrs Marjon Wind spoke of the mid-century Dutch housing project that saw the construction of 300 homes based on a Dutch design by a Dutch/Australian company and the Dutch migrants who came out to build the houses. Many of them settled in Brisbane in the same homes they built and a few of their descendants attended the ceremony.

Mr Paul Budde of the Dutch Australia Cultural Centre spoke of the strong Dutch connection to Brisbane which also included Camp Colombia in the Wacol area, where the Netherlands East Indies Government-in-exile was based – the only government in exile ever to be hosted on Australian soil.

As the Chair of the Coopers Plains History Group, with Beryl Roberts present (the previous President) I spoke of the 7 years of advocacy I have spent seeking recognition for the Dutch Houses, ‘like a dog with a bone’, as Cr Marx remarked to much mutual amusement. I described how the project was a financial debacle, as Alfon Vernooy documented in his book The Dutch Houses of Coopers Plains and that 700 were planned.

Now, only about 60 remain. Many have been removed to make way for Cornerstone Living. Some are much-loved and in private hands and are some still housing commission homes that are rented out. Six of the latter have a heritage listing proposal on them. They sit at the back of St Thomas Moore College in Sunnybank. Whilst it is a good choice in that heritage listings impose similar restrictions to Departmental maintenance schedules, they are out of sight, out of mind.

I also described the origin of a vision for a Dutch House History Cafe museum that began in 2016 at the Cornerstone Living Community Garden on 85 Troughton Road, Sunnybank. Next door was a public housing ‘Dutch’ house that was supposed to be a community facility the developer had to provide under its contractual obligations to the city Council. It sat empty and idle for six years until it was demolished in 2022. It was an ideal setting for a museum cafe supplied in part by the garden. There was a petition signed by more than 1,000 people. I had two homes earmarked for this idea. Both have now been demolished.

Keep the Dream of a History Cafe Alive

I urged the attendees to keep the dream of Dutch House museum alive – one that could be accessed by the public where, inside on the walls, pictures could tell the story of the Dutch migrants and their presence in Brisbane. I pointed out number 4 McKoy Street facing directly onto the park which is ideal, being in very original condition. It is presently owned by private investors from India.

I am delighted with this outcome – a first for the history group in the seven years I have chaired it with various projects that aim to preserve our local history. My thanks go to all the local residents who supported the petition, Mr Paul Budde for collaborating, members for the Coopers Plains History Group and Cr Kim Marx for her active assistance and the staff of the Brisbane City Council for arranging the signage and processing the naming.