Ormiston House

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If you ever find yourself with a Sunday afternoon free and want to do something a little different, take a drive to the historic . Known as the birthplace of the sugar industry, is a piece of historic treasure. Here you will find a beautifully restored heritage listed building, Devonshire tea on the verandah, fantastic views of Moreton Bay and a friendly welcome.


The early colonial style house is open every Sunday between 12 noon and 4pm. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for children. When I arrived for the first time I was pleasantly surprised. and its gardens have been lovingly restored over the years with money raised by volunteers.


When you enter the house you are in for a real treat. You feel like you have travelled back in time. The rooms have been furnished to reflect the period from which it was built by Captain Louis Hope in 1862, through to when it was owned by John Arthur Macartney in the early 1900's. There are still belongings from the two main owners including a rocking horse that the Hope children used to play with.


As you visit each room you are welcomed by friendly volunteers who have a wealth of knowledge. They could tell me about the history of the house itself, its owners and the antiques from the Georgian, William IV, through to the Victorian period. One of the volunteers took her time to show us the different items that would have been used in the kitchen. The chores of the house were just that in those days. This was really fascinating and would be perfect for school aged children.






After being able to wonder the house freely, we took a stroll across the large lawn and took in the views of Moreton Bay. You can clearly see Cleveland Point and Stradbroke Island. They look stunning with the sun sparkling on the water.


We then headed back towards the house for Devonshire tea on the verandah. For $5 you can get tea and a scone with jam and cream, and there are also poppers for the children. This was really popular when we visited which made for a lovely atmosphere. The lawn is ideal for younger children to run around and you can also bring your own picnic to enjoy.




Throughout the year, is host to a variety of special events such as Mother's day Special High Tea, Concours d'Elegance, a variety of car club special events, an Edwardian Tea Party and a Highland Celtic Celebration.


The volunteers do a fantastic job of preserving this important piece of history, so be sure to add this to your to do list and bring the whole family.

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