Historic Queensland home with ballroom ready for new chapter

The property at 19 Dargie Street, Everton Park, on Brisbane’s northside, is for sale by negotiation and is being marketed by Ray White One Group sales and marketing consultants Mary Di Marco and Mary McEvoy.

Ms Di Marco described this gem as a “significant piece of Brisbane’s history".

Sir Leon Trout developed the surrounding, appropriately named “Trouts Estate”, according to Ms Di Marco.

Ms Di Marco said Sir Leon Trout was the president of Queensland’s Liberal Party from 1953-1957 and housed a substantial amount of art works collected over 60 years at the property.

“The gallery space in the home once displayed works by key Heidelberg School artists, including Frederick McCubbin and Arthur Streeton,” Ms Di Marco said.

Known as ‘Everton House’, the six-bedroom four-bathroom property was known as a “lively social venue” for arts enthusiasts and housed the couple’s extensive collection of art works.

The house still features the portrait gallery, which became an extension to Everton House, and is reached via a wide circular staircase with balconies on both sides.

Ms Di Marco said it is believed former Prime Minister of Australia Sir Robert Menzies stayed at the home when he visited Brisbane.

“The home is waiting for a fairy grandmother to wave her magic wand and make it sparkle again,” she said.

“There are old photos of ladies from the 1960s and 1970s with their gloves, hats and handbags standing by the swimming pool - a bygone era but an era when this home was the centre of social gatherings for art connoisseurs, politicians and movers and shakers of mid-late 20th century.”

She said the parents’ of one of the current owners purchased the house, when the estate was divided in 1991.

“The new residences surrounding the home were built in the original gardens of the home,” Ms Di Marco said.