AHS displays multidisciplinary expertise at Naldham House – Brisbane
Former Brisbane Polo Club
Naldham House is a familiar Brisbane CBD landmark and an important building within the city’s maritime history. Known to many people as the Brisbane Polo Club, Naldham House (shown above c.1889) is currently undergoing major refurbishment to transform the site into a venue for events and functions.
AHS has played a vital role in the revitalisation of this State Heritage place, working with our client Dexus to ensure that all approval conditions and heritage compliance requirements are met during the redevelopment.
We continue to provide ongoing heritage advice including direct liaison with State and local government heritage authorities.
The wide range of heritage reports prepared by AHS demonstrate our multidisciplinary expertise within the heritage and building industry. These reports have included various Heritage Impact Statements, Microscopic Paint Analyses, Conditioning and Monitoring reports, archaeological monitoring and management protocols, and also render and mortar analysis.
An imposing architectural presence in the Revival Classic style
The current Naldham House site was acquired by the Australasia Steam Navigation Company (ASN Co) in 1852 and a two-storey office erected in 1864, with various extensions and renovations carried out during the 1870s and 1880s contributing to the building’s current form.
ASN Co was merged into the Australasian United Steam Navigation Company (AUSN) in the mid-1880s, with the building continuing to play an important role within Brisbane’s maritime industry.
The building was internally renovated in 1915 by MacDonald Hamilton & Co who had become the new agents for AUSN in 1914. Renovations included a new boardroom with silky oak panelling installed on the first floor. The name was also officially changed to Naldham House at this time.
Later owners include the Brisbane Polo Club between 1994 and 2015. Naldham House is a State Heritage place registered on the Queensland Heritage Register.
A tessellated tiled floor within Naldham House
Tessellated tiled floors of exceptional heritage significance
The tessellated tiled floors located on the ground-floor Cupola Tower lobby and on the first-floor verandah overlooking Mary Street are considered to be original fabric of exceptional heritage significance, as is the internal relocated cedar timber staircase near the main entry facing Waterfront Place.
Our extensive Historic Paint Analysis included the microscopic analysis of samples taken from across the site, revealing the use of gold leaf decoration on the capitals of cast iron columns located on the ground floor. These columns were most likely installed during the extensions of the late 1870s.
Naldham House is a fine example of a late nineteenth century maritime building with an imposing architectural presence in the Revival Classic style.
It is significant as a surviving remnant of a streetscape that would once have included similarly opulent mercantile buildings.
We look forward to seeing the building’s new use as it begins another chapter of its history.
The internal relocated cedar timber staircase
Contact us
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The Challenge
The current Naldham House site was acquired by the Australasia Steam Navigation Company (ASN Co) in 1852 and a two-storey office erected in 1864, with various extensions and renovations carried out during the 1870s and 1880s contributing to the building’s current form.
ASN Co was merged into the Australasian United Steam Navigation Company (AUSN) in the mid-1880s, with the building continuing to play an important role within Brisbane’s maritime industry.
The building was internally renovated in 1915 by MacDonald Hamilton & Co who had become the new agents for AUSN in 1914. Renovations included a new boardroom with silky oak panelling installed on the first floor. The name was also officially changed to Naldham House at this time.
Later owners include the Brisbane Polo Club between 1994 and 2015. Naldham House is a State Heritage place registered on the Queensland Heritage Register.
How we helped
The tessellated tiled floors located on the ground-floor Cupola Tower lobby and on the first-floor verandah overlooking Mary Street are considered to be original fabric of exceptional heritage significance, as is the internal relocated cedar timber staircase near the main entry facing Waterfront Place.
Our extensive Historic Paint Analysis included the microscopic analysis of samples taken from across the site, revealing the use of gold leaf decoration on the capitals of cast iron columns located on the ground floor. These columns were most likely installed during the extensions of the late 1870s.
Naldham House is a fine example of a late nineteenth century maritime building with an imposing architectural presence in the Revival Classic style.
It is significant as a surviving remnant of a streetscape that would once have included similarly opulent mercantile buildings.
We look forward to seeing the building’s new use as it begins another chapter of its history.
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