Claremont

Claremont was originally the home of John Panton, son of the Post-Master General of New South Wales. In 1851, he moved to Ipswich and established himself as a merchant, opening a business called 'Panton and Co.' in Brisbane Street. In 1855, a two-storey sandstone warehouse was built on Panton’s land at Limestone Hill, and then two years later, Claremont was erected. By 1863, financial difficulties forced Panton to sell many assets, including Claremont. At this time the home was sold to George Thorn, a well-known merchant, landowner and politician. The Thorn Family owned the property for many years before selling it to George Rennie Wilson in 1906.

During Wilson's ownership the Claremont block was subdivided, reducing the property from 2 acres and 23 perches to 1 acre, 21 perches. This subdivision was not the first – in 1874 land between the Bremer River and the villa was resumed to allow for the construction of the Brisbane to Ipswich Railway. It was also around this time that the old government lime-kiln, located within the Claremont grounds, was most likely dismantled.  

Over the years, Claremont has seen many alterations with owners re-purposing the property. During the 1920s, the verandahs were rebuilt in a bungalow style. Sold to Jessie Violet Preddy, Claremont was used as a boarding house between 1924 to 1939 and was subsequently divided into three flats. It was during the 1940s that the ends of both wings were demolished.  

The Endeavour Foundation (then known as the Queensland Sub-Normal Children’s Welfare Association) acquired the property in 1964 and changes were made at this time to enable the home to be used as school. The alterations at this point most likely included the installation of bathrooms over the cellar, bricking in fireplaces and transforming the original double hipped slated roof into a single hip roof over the main rooms. Just over a decade later, the National Trust of Queensland used a National Estate Grant to purchase Claremont. The property was then sub-leased back to the Queensland Sub-Normal Children’s Welfare Association.

After a two-year vacancy, Claremont was leased in 1980 to architect Bruce Buchanan and his wife, local historian Robyn Buchanan. Restoration work soon began on the property and the following year, the general public were invited to Claremont’s first Open Day. The Buchanan family vacated Claremont in the mid-1980s. 

The property was owned by the National Trust until 2002. On 12 December 2002 the Governor-in-General approved the sale of Claremont by the National Trust. Michael Read and Sharon Jones purchased the property in 2003 and in 2006 they received a Queensland Heritage Award (High Commendation) for their work in restoring the property for use as a family home.

Designed by William Claydon Wakeling, it is believed that sandstone blocks from the old Woogaroo quarries were used to construct Claremont.  Adding to its historical significance, this home is a rare example of an early Georgian villa in Queensland.