Dutch House History Cafe

April, 2024. A small group of my neighbours are interested in supporting the history cafe project, so I took them for a tour and viewing of 9 Macdevitt Street and 4 McKoy Street. Their skills include carpentry, glazing, building, pizza-oven chef, barista, manicurist, accounting and computing. Between us, we can do this.

We collectively agreed that 4 McKoy Street is the superior candidate because of its prime location – front and centre, overlooking McKoy Park. There is plenty of street parking and it is in the centre of Cornerstone Living. It is also in better condition than 9 Macdevitt Street and is also very original (minus the outhouse).

Local MP Peter Russo responded to our inquiry into the current ownership of the properties saying they did not belong to the Department of Housing. This isn’t particularly helpful because we know 9 Macdevitt Street is being sold by the developer back to the housing department; it probably hasn’t finalized. I made inquiries about 4 McKoy Street and it is privately owned and rented. Securing a privately owned property for community purposes is a tough call.

Therefore, our strategy now is to call on City Council to place an information plaque in front of both Dutch Houses (at Macdevitt and McKoy Streets) describing their unique place in Brisbane’s public housing and migrant history. This will be pursued by the Coopers Plains History Group at part of the 2024 Bicentenary of Queensland’s conception in the form of the Moreton Bay Penal Colony.

January, 2024. YouTuber WalkaboutWithRob has produced a great little documentary about the Dutch Houses. It’s a neat video. For context, I commented, “Great job, Rob and it was a pleasure to help on its production. A bit more info for interested folks: there were at least three other building projects like this contracted out to foreign companies – a French project of 1,000 houses in Zillmere and Chermside, a Swedish project of 700 houses in Acacia Ridge and Ipswich and an Italian project of 1,000 houses in Carina and Toowoomba. Rob you might like to investigate them? There are about 40 of the Dutch Houses outside the Cornerstone Living development. The Brisbane City Council recently stated they would protect a pocket of them, but no promises about the 9 Macdevitt St little gem that is so original and well located for a history cafe and neighbourhood orchard (see below). While there is much to be desired about the mid-century experiment in globalized housing construction, some people who lived in them loved them without complaint. Sadly little seems to have been learnt from them by modern developers and the new iteration repeats many mistakes such as poor design (no passive planning, rainwater tanks, solar panels, bike paths, community facility sharing… the list goes on despite the ‘sustainability’ greenwash marketing to foreigners, recent arrivals and everyone else)… the best one can say is the foundations are probably better. For more information and a petition, go to Petition.”

Mid-September, 2023. Local City Council member for Runcorn Ward, Cr Kim Marx, reports that the Queensland State Government is buying back three properties – including 9 Macdevitt Street – from the developer of Cornerstone Living. It will be sold at current market rates. This means the properties will revert back to their original owners, the state government, whose Housing Commission contracted the Dutch company, Concrete Buildings Pty Ltd to build the properties in 1952. Is the Housing Department interested in preserving some of its Dutch migrant history? We shall see.

This could be good news. The govt may be willing to sell it for a more reasonable price than if it was sold at auction. Alternatively, if the govt can be convinced that we have the funds to run a history cafe without govt assistance, the govt may be willing to retain ownership and lease it to the cafe business at a peppercorn rate. This would mean much less initial outlay.

Early September, 2023. All hope seems to be lost for setting aside one of the best examples of Brisbane’s mid-century Dutch built Housing Commission homes at Cornerstone Living.

Unfortunately the owner/developer Consolidated Property appears to be preparing it for sale on the open market.

Apparently, the house is one of three in the developer’s M, N & S plans that have not progressed (see image). In frustration, one of the partners in the business is demanding it‘s investment back.

Six months ago, Mr Don O’Rorke, CEO of Consolidated Property, met Mr Paul Budde, Chair of the Dutch Australia Cultural Centre, and I and expressed his support for the project, even kindly offering some funds to market the concept. However, the current tenants, OCCA, told us they have been given an eviction notice. We were not informed and only after inquiring were we told vaguely, “these are uncertain times”..

The last hope of protecting the house was to Heritage list it. However, as a post war home, it is not even covered by Council’s ‘character overlay’. Without these protections, it will very likely be demolished.

The Brisbane City Council’s Senior Historian, Dr Ross Mahoney in the Architecture and Heritage department has had a Heritage listing application on the property under consideration for several years now. On hearing the news of its imminent sale and probable demolition, no sense of urgency was apparent.

There are still some 12 of these much-loved Dutch houses in private hands, in good condition. However, none are protected or open to the public. Each one is solidly built and embodies considerable resources.

It appears that profit is overriding the community’s interests yet again. This is a significant disappointment, as it brings an end to 4 years of lobbying and the petition – signed by more than 1,000 people.

Profiting from an investment might seem benign when talking to a financial advisor about how to store your savings. But more likely than not, it will extract wealth from either the environment or people. I urge you, your family and friends, to be careful how you secure your financial well-being. Have you disposed of all your debt? Once you have the basics (a home and a modest nest-egg for emergencies and retirement), stop accumulating. The world is degrading and the population still climbing. When you protect your nest-egg from inflation, be sure you know it’s doing minimal harm.

I would like to thank Mr Paul Budde and the committee at OCCA for their support and of course all of the signatories to the petition for this project.

May, 2023. The vision of a Dutch House preserved for public access continues. The Coopers Plains Local History Group is being revived and the Dutch Australia Cultural Centre is supporting the concept to tell the story of local Dutch and Brisbane history.

We recently met with the CEO of the developer of Cornerstone Living, where the remaining Dutch Houses are situated, and receved [sic] a positive response to the proposal.

We have identified 9 Macdevitt Street, Coopers Plains (pictured here) as the best candidate. It has a heritage listing application on it with the Brisbane City Council. It is in original, unadapted condition, complete with outhouse at the back. It is well situated on a corner facing north and central to the local development.

9 Macdevitt St Coopers Plains — _{9 Macdevitt Street, Coopers Plains}

Former home to Oxley Creek Catchment Centre — _{9 Macdevitt Street, Coopers Plains}

The concept is to have a self-funded history cafe and community orchard, run by a nfp organization. The interior will be furnished in mid-century decor, displaying images and information about local Dutch history. Picture a fun tourist spot with waiters in traditional Dutch dress serving tables inside and out in the sun under shady trees. Cosy meeting rooms for hire. A fruit orchard supplying the menu. Tantalizing conversations about history, local gossip and tasty fruit recipes.

SIGN THE PETITION to support this project

Dutch House Community Gardens

On Wednesday 25th of August, 2022, the Dutch House at 86 Troughton Road was demolished. But there’s another one to save! Please sign the petition. (Update: The petition is closed.)