If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping into a time machine with pressed-metal ceilings and wrap-around verandahs, your moment has arrived.
“Whroonga”, a grand old Queenslander perched on 3 Mark Street in New Farm, is up for sale for the first time since 1890, marking the end of one remarkable family’s 135-year chapter.
Passed lovingly down through generations, the home is more than a piece of real estate, it’s a living scrapbook of Brisbane’s colonial past and political legacy. It was here that Lady Florence Bjelke-Petersen, known to most Australians as “Lady Flo”, spent her formative years. Before she was baking her famous pumpkin scones or sitting in the Senate, she was simply Flo from New Farm, sharing her childhood with sister Margaret in what neighbours once dubbed the suburb’s own “Gilmore Girls” household.
Lady Flo was married to Queensland’s longest-serving premier, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, and while the world outside transformed apace, “Whroonga” stood still, its high ceilings, timber joinery, and century-old charm untouched by modern trends. Even the majestic red flame tree in the front yard has stood sentinel for generations, shading countless childhood games, family gatherings and quiet moments alike.
Margaret Gilmour, Florence’s sister and a respected local historian, remained in the house until her passing at the age of 101, ensuring its story stayed whole. Now, for the first time in well over a century, the keys will pass to a new owner who will write the next chapter.
In a world of fast flips and fleeting ownership, “Whroonga” is a rare and beautiful reminder of the stories homes can hold when they’re given time to breathe – and generations to grow.
Take a look at the property here.
Images: Place New Farm / Qld State Library
