As you approach stop number 12, you’ll see Gooloowan coming up on your right. Keep an eye out for a two-storey Victorian mansion that stands out amidst well-maintained gardens. The building has a prominent, expansive verandah that wraps around both the ground and upper levels with intricate cast-iron balustrades. Supported by paired timber posts, the upper verandah has a beautiful concave curved roof covered in corrugated galvanized iron. The structure's creamy facade with green accents on the posts and shutters is hard to miss. The house is set back from the road, behind a white picket fence with distinctive Gothic-style finials.
Gooloowan, located at 43 Quarry Street, is a stunning heritage-listed villa that really captures the essence of the 19th century. Designed by the talented architect Charles Balding, this magnificent house was built beginning around 1864 and was commissioned by Benjamin Cribb for himself and his second wife, Clarissa. Cribb, originally from Dorsetshire, England, came to Moreton Bay in 1849, and his entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish and nurture a successful business in Ipswich called "London Stores."
After the death of his first wife, Elizabeth, in 1852, Benjamin married Clarissa Foote and the couple soon became a powerhouse together, with John Clarke Foote, Clarissa's brother, joining the business. As Cribb and Foote, the firm flourished, becoming a well-regarded name in Ipswich, providing goods and financial support, especially to farming families in the region.
Gooloowan, with its lush gardens and grand circular driveway flanked by mature camphor laurel trees, hasn’t seen many changes since its original construction. Some minor modifications include rendering over the original brickwork and changing the slate roof to corrugated galvanized iron. Inside, you’d find lovely cedar joinery and rare, surviving bathrooms from the era.
This mansion holds a rich history, passing through generations of the Cribb and Walker families, including prominent figures like Thomas Bridson Cribb, who served as Queensland Treasurer in 1901. The property stayed within the original family's hands until it was sold to the Isbell family in 1988.
Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast or a history buff, Gooloowan is a real gem and a testament to Ipswich’s rich cultural heritage. Enjoy soaking in the grandeur and stories of this splendid villa!
