Rockton, Ipswich

Rockton is a Victorian-style mansion in Newtown, Ipswich, that displays numerous additions and renovations from different eras. The building features a tower, extensive verandahs, a converted ballroom, and specialized rooms including a billiard room and fernery.

The original three-room cottage was built in 1855 for William Craies, a bank manager, and stands as the oldest remaining building in Ipswich. Over nearly 100 years, successive additions were made that reflected the growing wealth and changing living standards of its residents.

The property shows architectural styles from different periods that reflect how people's preferences for building and living changed over generations. The rooms and their features tell the story of how residents lived and what mattered to them at different times.

The property is located on Rockton Street and is easy to reach. Visitors should be prepared for the historical structures to be spread across several different areas, including specialized rooms like the billiard room and fernery.

The property came under the ownership of the Haenke family in 1918 and remained in their care for decades, with each generation making their own improvements. This continuous stewardship by one family allowed both the historical origins and the developments of various eras to be preserved.