Miegunyah House Museum

Discover the rich history of one of Brisbane’s Most accessible heritage homes ‘Miegunyah’ – a superb example of Victorian elegance and charm.

Owned by the Queensland Women’s Historical Association (QWHA), Miegunyah was built in 1886 for Herbert and Leila Perry. It is richly decorated with iron-lace balustrades, filigree columns and friezes, and furnished in the style of the late 19th century. Step through the wide cedar door way into the house museum, to learn about its history and the people who called Miegunyah home. Glimpse the labours of 19th century housekeeping and domestic life.

Enjoy light refreshments, views from the verandah and the garden setting of this period home.

Miegunyah is typical of the larger houses built in Brisbane in the 1880’s, of which it is a particularly well-preserved and fine example. Typically it has a main entrance door and hall in the centre of the front elevation, between a sitting room and a bedroom. The roof is of corrugated galvanised iron with symmetrical form at the front and with uneven hipped projections to the rear with an internal valley between them.

The exterior of the house appears in its original colour scheme. A broad verandah runs around the front and two sides of the house, with a curved iron roof, and with a projecting pedimented porch to the front door. The name of the maker of the iron lace balustrading, Smith Forrester & Co. Brisbane, is noticeable on the exterior surface at the base. Particularly unusual in Brisbane houses of the period is the honeycomb brickwork in the base wall under the outer edge of the verandah.

Miegunyah was purchased by the QWHA in 1967 and is on the register of the National Estate, the Queensland Heritage Register and is classified ‘A’ by the National Trust. The grounds are protected by a Brisbane City Council Vegetation Preservation Order.

Miegunyah is lovingly cared for by volunteer QWHA members assisted by honorary architects.