Fernside

Fernside is a heritage-listed brick villa in East Toowoomba with a symmetrical layout, hipped roof, and multiple verandahs that span across Fernside Street. The property sits on gently sloping ground and includes established gardens connected by a carriageway, with rendered chimneys featuring throughout the structure.

The villa was built between 1876 and 1877 by John Alexander Boyce, a government official who worked as Clerk of Petty Sessions in Toowoomba. The property was developed during Queensland's period of colonial growth and residential expansion in the region.

The house shows how well-off families in late 1800s Queensland designed their homes, with original interior details still visible throughout the rooms. Walking through the spaces gives you a sense of everyday life during that period and the craftsmanship that went into these residences.

The property is positioned on gently rising terrain with views toward the Great Dividing Range, allowing visitors to appreciate the setting and surroundings. The established gardens and carriageway provide clear access points to explore the external features of the structure.

The property remained in family ownership for more than 100 years, from its creation in 1876 until 1978. Margaret Annie Griffiths inherited the house and lived there until reaching age 100, demonstrating a remarkable continuity of family connection to the place.