Researching the history of your house

Start by searching for your street address or house name here on Our Story. 

Useful items in the collection

• • James Robert Hughes architectural drawings, ca. 1940-1960 - plans for homes primarily in the Redcliffe area designed by JR Hughes between 1940 and 1960
  • Melva Welch Collection - Pine Rivers Land Records prior to 1952 - history of each portion of land in the former Pine Rivers Shire area up until 1952
  • Photographic collections - search to see if your house or previous owner is pictured in our collection
  • Parish Maps - these maps from late 1800s and early 1900s show the land parcels and the name of the original land owner
  • Estate Maps - view historic maps from when estates were created to see if your street and the block is there.
  • Valuation registers and rate books - the valuation registers and rate books for the Pine River Shire in the early 1900s are available on microfilm at Strathpine Library Local History room 

Other places to look

• • Aerial maps - use QImagery or Queensland Globe to search historical aerial views of where the house is to see any changes in the landscape or street. City of Moreton Bay's DataHub has a side by side comparison of 1950s aerial photographs with today's maps here.
  • Electoral rolls - if you know the name of a person who lived in the house, you can search electoral rolls on Ancestry Library Edition or Find My Past at any Moreton Bay Region Libraries branch
  • Trove - search historical newspapers for your house name or street address or the name of any previous occupants.
  • State Library Guide - the State Library of Queensland provides a guide to using their extensive resources to research your home.
  • Start Archives Guide - search the Queensland State Archives records for the history of your home.
  • Titles Queensland - request a historical title search or an image of the certificate of title from Titles Queensland - fees apply. Find the Lot or Plan number from your Rates Notice. Titles will name land owners, indicate mortgages over land, easements and further subdivisions.
  • Talk to your neighbours!  Often neighbours will know more about the history of your street and home.