Gooloowan, Heritage villa in Ipswich, Australia

Gooloowan is a two-storey rendered brick mansion at 43 Quarry Street, with verandahs encircling the main block on both levels, paired timber posts running through two storeys, cast-iron balustrading above and a concave curved roof. A two-storey service wing at the rear houses the kitchen, and the grounds retain a circular driveway, camphor laurels, hoop pines and limestone terracing.

Benjamin Cribb, an English immigrant who founded London Stores in Ipswich, commissioned architect Charles Balding to build Gooloowan in 1864. The property became a symbol of early Queensland merchant prosperity.

The house was built for Benjamin Cribb, whose firm Cribb and Foote lent money to nearby farmers on nothing more than their word. His name appears among the founders of Ipswich Grammar School. Later residents included Thomas Bridson Cribb, Queensland Treasurer in 1901, and Harriet Marian Bridson Walker, admitted as a barrister in 1935 as only the third woman in Queensland.

The property is accessed via a circular driveway that leads to the main entrance, providing a clear view of the exterior features. Visitors should be aware that interior spaces remain historically preserved and require appropriate care.

The property features a rare hand-operated lift system, showcasing the innovation of wealthy late 19th-century households. This feature is seldom preserved in private homes today and makes the residence particularly noteworthy.