Information

Built circa 1921. Queensland Director of Forests (1918-24) Edward Swain bought 1.5 acres beside the River in 1920 and this House was occupied by 1925. On the grounds, he planted native tree and exotic plant gardens. At nearby Sherwood, he established a riverside Arboretum park. Swain initiated modern state economic forestry practices. In 1932, he became Queensland Forestry Board’s inaugural chairman . He spoke against indiscriminate land grants of state forrest in the 1932 state election and subsequently lost his job. He moved to South Australia then NSW. He was founder of ANU’s Australian Forestry School and worked for the UN. His daughter maintained their Chelmer home and he died in Brisbane in 1970.

Citations

Department of Enviroment and Heritage Protection, Queensland Heritage Register citation No.602427

Image Citations

Map References

Qimagery. Brisbane 1936. Scale: 1:11,000.