St John's Wood House, Ashgrove

St John's Wood House is a single-story residence with a U-shaped design and walls built from local Enoggera granite, located at 31 Piddington Street in Brisbane. The building retains its original timber posts, pressed metal ceilings, and period flooring throughout its spaces.

Daniel Rowntree Somerset arrived from Northern Ireland in 1850 and purchased land in 1864 to build this residence. The property later became the name source for the surrounding neighborhood and remained one of the few grand houses in this part of Brisbane for decades.

The residence became a gathering place for Brisbane's prominent families during the Harding years, particularly after a ballroom was added to host social events. This reflects how grand homes served as centers of community life and entertainment for the upper classes of the period.

The house is best visited as part of exploring the wider St John's Wood neighborhood, as it sits in a central location within the area. Allow time to walk the surrounding streets to see how other residences from the same period developed in this part of Brisbane.

The house was the first major structure built in this area of Brisbane and later gave its name to the entire surrounding neighborhood. This makes it a key landmark for understanding how the city grew and developed during the 19th century.