Karragaroo

Built in 1884, the first owner of Karragaroo was Ambrose Foote, son of Cribb and Foote co-founder, John Clarke Foote. Ambrose and his wife, the former Miss Ada Maria Grimes of Brisbane, lived at Karragaroo with their six sons. Set on a hill, Karragaroo was surrounded by impressive gardens and offered commanding views of the township. The property also had several stables, which housed horses and the four-wheeled buggy used to transport the family to the Methodist Church every Sunday.

In 1919, well-known Ipswich photographer Francis Arnold (F.A) Whitehead purchased the home and moved in with his wife Jeanie and their six children. It seems that around this time the expansive grounds began to be subdivided and the former stables were transformed into a garage and practice room for tennis.

Following Mr Whitehead’s death in 1943, the property passed through many hands and at one point was converted into eight rented apartments. Around 2005, Terry and Allison Holt purchased the property, which at the time was in rather poor condition. With a passion for renovation, the Holts spent many hours working to once again restore Karragaroo to a grand family home.