Jordan Village Pensioners Cottages

Pensioners’ Cottages schemes, which were built by local authorities with the aid of a State Government subsidy offered from 1946, were an important social welfare initiative that allowed pensioners to lead independent lives in the districts where they had always resided, and were an alternative to aged care institutions. Under this scheme half the cost of erecting the cottages was subsidised by the state government.

In 1946 the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce asked the Ipswich City Council to assist old age pensioners by providing housing for aged people. The following year the Ipswich branch of the Pensioners’ League was formed and a meeting was held in the Trades Hall building. A deputation from the Pensioners’ League met with Ipswich City Council in July of that year to discuss the construction of 8 cottages in Omar Street which was opposed by some of the local residents.

By 1949 an alternative plan was formed and the Council approved plans for pensioners cottages at Brassall.  Two years later only one tender was received to build the cottages so fresh tenders were called in March 1952 to build 12 cottages in Swan and Bottomley Streets in Brassall.  Each cottage to have a bedroom, living room, kitchen, veranda and bath room. The tender of Messrs. Warren and Greaves of £12,320 to build six cottages within 12 months was approved.

The cottages at 27 Swan Street in Brassall were completed in 1953 and advertisements in the Queensland Times informed readers that applications were invited from Old Age Pensioners from 22 December 1953 to 11 January 1954.

Cottages were let for an affordable rent, and pensioners interested in occupying a cottage submitted an application to the local council.