Rosser’s house and gardens in Benowa

Rosser’s house and gardens is located in Benowa

Address: 234 Ashmore Road, Benowa

Position on map:

Rosser’s house and gardens at 234 Ashmore Road, Benowa, were established by John and Essie Rosser in the early 1920s and is historically significant in demonstrating the early to mid 20th century phase of residential development in Benowa. The house is an example of a 1920s timber and iron building, adapted over time to meet the changing needs of the family. This adaptation resulted in the house becoming an innovative and early example of sub-tropical building design. The gardens include examples of significant historic mature trees planted in the late 1870s by the Benowa Sugar Mill manager, Robert Muir. The house is one of the earliest dwellings in Benowa still remaining on its original site. Development pressures, which have transformed the Benowa area into a suburban environment, have resulted in this type of timber and iron house with a substantial mature garden now being rare. Both the house and the garden were designed to take advantage of the views over the floodplain and hinterland. Today the house, within its secluded and picturesque mature garden setting and with its important view lines, has aesthetic significance. The place has a special association with John and Essie Rosser who made a notable contribution to the Gold Coast city through their generous donation of a significant parcel of land for the purpose of a botanical garden.

Queensland Heritage Register: NO
Heritage protection boundary: –