page_title: Garowie
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Garowie / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Playing bowls on the lawn at Garowie, Ipswich, 1926
context_page_description: Garowie is a heritage-listed villa at 59 Whitehill Road, Eastern Heights, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by architect Samuel Shenton and built c. 1888 by Robert Wilson and Co. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
context_section_description: Garowie, a grand two-storey residence, was one of several mansions built on the Limestone Hill ridge. It was built by Mesrs Robt. Wilson and Co for James Clarke Cribb, the son of Benjamin Cribb who founded the Cribb and Foote business, and his wife Alice née Browne. The house was designed by Ipswich builder and architect, Samuel Shenton, and was completed in 1888. It is said to have been modelled on the Denmark Hill home of Benjamin Cribb, Gooloowan.
  The architect Samuel Shenton, arrived in Ipswich in March 1851 and began work as a carpenter and building contractor. Among his early contracts were Dr Challinor's house and shop in Brisbane Street and fitting out the first Presbyterian Church (1853). Shenton made some significant improvements to central Ipswich in the 1860s with the School of Arts and the Lands Office. During this time he was preparing plans, specifications and quantities and in 1879 his contracting business was taken over by Worley and Whitehead. Shenton practised as an architect from 1879 until 1889 when his practice was taken over by employee George Brockwell Gill. Shenton subsequently became heavily involved in community and business ventures as well as local politics. He was an alderman for many years and the Mayor of Ipswich from 1871-1872 and 1889. He died in Ipswich on 3 July 1893. Some of his other more notable and extant works are the Central Congregational Church Manse (1882–83) in Quarry Street, and Faerieknowe (Fairy Knoll) for E.W. Hargraves.
  James Cribb served the family company until 1904, when he was elected to the Bundamba Shire Council. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Rosewood and Bundamba (which later became the seat of Bremer), serving a total of 19 years as a state parliamentarian. Cribb was also a member of the board of the Ipswich Hospital, a director of the Ipswich Gas and Coke Company and the Queensland Woollen Mills, a trustee of the Ipswich and superintendent of the Congregational Sunday School.
  After James Cribb died in May 1926, his brother Harry bought the house. Harry Cribb was a state level champion tennis player. Garowie once had a tennis court in the grounds on the southern side of the house which was converted into a bowling green during the mid 1920s. This portion of the grounds as well as the portion to the north of the house were subdivided and separate residences were built. The original fence was replaced by a stone masonry fence at around this time. Henry Cribb died in July 1944, and the house was sold to K V Mc Donnell. During World War II the house had been converted into flats.
  In 1970 the house was bought by Dr and Mrs J Thomas, who began restoring it.
  In the 1980s the home was bought by Edwin & Loretta Stoyle where they raised their three children.
  In December 2003, the home was bought by the Frank family. On arrival, the property had been stripped of all floor coverings, drapes and all lighting—only light bulbs remained. Since purchase, the property has been extensively restored including underpinning, all verandahs replaced, complete replacement of the back wall which had been eaten-out by white ants, gutters replaced, all new antique 1800s lights/chandeliers installed, painted, cedar restored, and grounds landscaped.
  The residence was originally brick, and was rendered after 1919. The billiard room, on the southern side, has been relocated. The original fretwork on the front portico is missing, the current fretwork being copied from another residence, Lakemba, at 14 Chelmsford Avenue, Ipswich.
  The name Garowie is supposedly an Aboriginal word for Fig Tree Camp.
caption: Playing bowls on the lawn at Garowie, Ipswich, 1926
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