chic, unique, boutique accommodation New Farm
miss midgley’s is the delightful revitalisation of one of Brisbanes oldest heritage homes. The 160 year old stone building has been transformed into five self contained apartments. Four of the apartments have two bedrooms and the fifth is a glamorous one bedroom studio. Ground floor apartments are dog friendly. Each has air-conditioning, full kitchen, generous bathrooms, a large outdoor private space and a dedicated carpark space. Shared amenities include an elegant heated outdoor pool, petit laundry, book library and bike storage. Guests can stay in one apartment or hire the entire house. Short and long term stays welcome. An off-site house manager is always available.
In the heart of New Farm, miss midgley’s is located on the famous James Street, renowned as a leading retail, cultural and lifestyle destination on a local, national and international scale.
Lisa and Isabella White, mother and daughter, both with a Masters of Architecture from the University of Queensland are the creative team behind this project. Their ambition was to restore and share this piece of history by creating a chic unique boutique accommodation experience grounded in one of Brisbane’s oldest houses.
chic, unique, boutique accommodation
miss midgley’s is the delightful revitalisation of one of Brisbanes oldest heritage homes. The 160 year old stone building has been transformed into five self contained apartments. Four of the apartments have two bedrooms and the fifth is a glamorous one bedroom studio. Ground floor apartments are dog friendly. Each has air-conditioning, full kitchen, generous bathrooms, a large outdoor private space and a dedicated carpark space. Shared amenities include an elegant heated outdoor pool, petit laundry, book library and bike storage. Guests can stay in one apartment or hire the entire house. Short and long term stays welcome. An off-site house manager is always available.
In the heart of New Farm, miss midgley’s is located on the famous James Street, renowned as a leading retail, cultural and lifestyle destination on a local, national and international scale.
Lisa and Isabella White, mother and daughter, both with a Masters of Architecture from the University of Queensland are the creative team behind this project. Their ambition was to restore and share this piece of history by creating a chic unique boutique accommodation experience grounded in one of Brisbane’s oldest houses.
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miss midgley’s story
This building has lived many lives. Its journey began 159 years ago as a private home under the name of Cairncross House; an extremely rare example of colonial architecture built out of Brisbane’s heritage tuff. By the late 1860’s, the nun’s from Sisters of Mercy had converted it into an orphanage. 20 years later, a former premier of Queensland reclaimed it as his home. By this time, it had a new name; St Clair. The building was described as ‘one of the most substantially-built private residences in Brisbane.’ St Clair was used as a private hospital in the 1890’s before being sold to the Midgley family in 1903.
The Midgley family had a daughter – Annie. Annie Midgley converted her family home into a private school to aid the overcrowding at New farm state school across the road. She called it ‘Miss Midgley’s Educational Establishment.’
Annie Midgley was an artist and a teacher. She was ambidextrous, could instruct two pupils at the one time and write with both hands simultaneously. She painted in oils and water colours, modelled plaster busts and took up wood carving. Loved by her students, she was meticulously dressed with collars buttoned up the neck and lace up boots that went nearly as high.
116 years after Miss Midgley’s Educational Establishment opened, our story begins.
We knew immediately that Miss Midgley would be our inspiration on the building’s next journey.
miss midgley’s story
This building has lived many lives. Its journey began 159 years ago as a private home under the name of Cairncross House; an extremely rare example of colonial architecture built out of Brisbane’s heritage tuff. By the late 1860’s, the nun’s from Sisters of Mercy had converted it into an orphanage. 20 years later, a former premier of Queensland reclaimed it as his home. By this time, it had a new name; St Clair. The building was described as ‘one of the most substantially-built private residences in Brisbane.’ St Clair was used as a private hospital in the 1890’s before being sold to the Midgley family in 1903.
The Midgley family had a daughter – Annie. Annie Midgley converted her family home into a private school to aid the overcrowding at New farm state school across the road. She called it ‘Miss Midgley’s Educational Establishment.’
Annie Midgley was an artist and a teacher. She was ambidextrous, could instruct two pupils at the one time and write with both hands simultaneously. She painted in oils and water colours, modelled plaster busts and took up wood carving. Loved by her students, she was meticulously dressed with collars buttoned up the neck and lace up boots that went nearly as high.
116 years after Miss Midgley’s Educational Establishment opened, our story begins.
We knew immediately that Miss Midgley would be our inspiration on the building’s next journey.
location
New Farm is Brisbane’s most sought after suburb. Encased by the slow winding river, sprinkled with beautiful parklands, peaceful leafy streets and nestled between The City and The Valley (the home of Brisbane’s nightlife) New Farm has carved out its own identity. Don’t miss the New Farm Park Farmers Markets, or sitting riverside at the Powerhouse Museum enjoying a coffee or cocktail. The magnificent New Farm Riverwalk connects the park to the city, offering one of Brisbane’s most iconic views of the Story Bridge with soaring cliffs behind you. The riverwalk is only 10 minutes stroll from miss midgley’s front door. The real magic of miss midgley’s location is James St itself. James St is now recognised Australias premier shopping and dining precinct – the 5 top rated restaurants in Queensland are here, a stunning array of fashion boutiques and every furniture and homewares showroom worth visiting. Playing host to multiple street festivals, fashion conferences, and eat/drink awards, it has all the amenities you could imagine within a 5 minutes walk. Whatever your fancy, fine dining or pub meals, to cinemas and art galleries – you will find it on James St.
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Reimagined heritage accommodation, on James St.
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