Raymont Lodge

Raymont Lodge
Raymont Lodge, c. 1947.
University	University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Queensland College of Art and Southbank TAFE
Location	Auchenflower, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates	27°28′40.51″S 152°59′36.25″E / 27.4779194°S 152.9934028°E / -27.4779194; 152.9934028Coordinates: 27°28′40.51″S 152°59′36.25″E / 27.4779194°S 152.9934028°E / -27.4779194; 152.9934028
Founder	Uniting Church of Australia
Established	1980s
Named for	E. Raymont

Raymont Lodge is a heritage-listed student residential college located in Auchenflower, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It shares its grounds with the Trinity Theological College, Brisbane College of Theology and the Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church of Australia.

History

The beginnings of Raymont Lodge date back to 1904 when Drysliwyn, the old building at the centre of Raymont's grounds, was originally built for William Davies and his family. From 1942 to 1945, it housed part of Somerville House displaced by war activities.^[1] In 1944-45, the property was acquired and converted into a hostel for country girls studying in Brisbane by the Methodist Church, now the Uniting Church of Australia. It was formally named as Raymont Lodge in honour of Mrs E. Raymont, who had left a generous bequest to the church. The hostel was run by the Central Methodist Mission. A parsonage for its Superintendent was erected in the western corner of the property. In the 1960s, a new dormitory wing was added to house both male and female students.^[2]

The residential college commenced in the 1980s when a new building was constructed to house tertiary students. The Uniting Church also relocating its state headquarters and Trinity Theological College to the grounds.^[2]

Heritage listing

It is nationally listed heritage building, for its architectural significance and as one of the last grand mansions constructed in Brisbane. It is the work of architect Claude Chambers and is historically significant as the home of William Davies who made his fortune as a mining entrepreneur on the Gympie gold fields.^[3][4]

It was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992.^[5]

Present use

Students come from the University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Queensland College of Art and Southbank TAFE.^[6]

References