Matching carpentry and joinery features

These guidelines highlight typical carpentry and joinery features in traditional Queensland houses spanning from the late 19th Century to the interwar years of the 20th Century.

The sketches will help you recognise original features such as windows, mouldings, verandah balustrades and fretwork panels if you need to replace or add new joinery.

Good practice

First inspect your house for clues about what used to be there. If you can find evidence of original features, it may make it easier to select or design new items.
 
Retain and repair carpentry and joinery as much as possible, rather than removing or replacing it. The basis of this approach is to value the original components of the house, much as an antique piece of furniture is valued because it is unique and intact.

You will have a more valuable and characteristic Queensland house after it is restored if you adopt this approach.

Download Heritage - examples of carpentry and joinery (Word - 5.83Mb) to see examples of heritage carpentry and joinery.

Further reading 

• Evans, Ian and National Trust of Queensland, The Queensland House: history and conservation, Flannel Flower Press, Mullumbimby, 2001

More information

For more information, contact Council.