Dutch houses - built in the 1950s to provide affordable housing in Brisbane - are making way for a major redevelopment of Coopers Plains.
More than 300 houses were built by about 100 Dutch migrant workers, who brought with them almost all the materials and their families from Holland.
The Dutch project was considered a solution to Brisbane's post-war housing shortage of 17,000 homes, and also the lack of materials and labour.
Fred and Marijke van Breemen still live in the Dutch house her parents first rented in 1953.
“This is Dutch history,” said Fred.
“You used to be able to say, ‘the Dutch houses’, and people would know,” adds Marijke.
Straight out of the 1950s, the Dutch-designed prefabs were made of concrete but untested in Australian conditions.
Brisbane's Dutch houses are making way for a major redevelopment of Coopers Plains. Source: SBS News
The Dutch company, J Krap Building Contractors, brought a whole concrete factory, roof tiles, timber floor boards, windows, doors and even the kitchen sinks from Holland. Only the concrete was sourced locally.
The Queensland government commissioned the construction of 1,000 houses in a joint venture with an Australian company Concrete Developments.
Just over 300 were built before the company hit financial troubles because of the cost of construction.
“They’re really quite a significant historical aspect of Coopers Plains, unfortunately we’ve lost a lot in the last few years,” said Beryl Roberts, a Coopers Plains historian.
“Basically it was housing commission and it was affordable housing for people on low incomes.”
One hundred houses were initially allocated to the Dutch workers and their families.
Fred van Breemen's family migrated to Australia in 1954 and his father worked in the concrete factory.
“There were quite a few Dutch around and there are still a few around here,” Fred said.
Marijke’s father bought their house in the 1970s and then sold it on.
“That’s the reason I met Marijke. Her dad said, ‘Would you like to buy this house?’, and I said, ’Yes please’, because I knew what the history was, the Dutch houses are solid,” Fred said.
Today only a few dozen survive, with most demolished and being replaced by high-density townhouses and units.
More than 300 houses were built by about 100 Dutch migrant workers in a bid to ease Brisbane's post-war housing shortage and lack of materials and labour. Source: SBS News
Dutch houses were not fit for Brisbane’s climate. A Courier Mail newspaper review in the 1953 said they were too “compact”, lacked “imaginative design” and “natural light”. Many also suffered from concrete cracking and rising damp.
“It’s not so much there's something wrong with them it's just age,” said local MP Peter Russo about the social housing. “They were build about 60 years ago and they're way past their used by date.”
Six decades on, Brisbane’s population pressures are driving the redevelopment of Coopers Plains.
The old housing commission estate on state government land has been sold off to developers to provided a mix of social, low-cost and private housing.
“They tell us there will be about 8,000 to 10,000 people living here in the next 10 years,” Beryl Roberts said.
Much of the van Breemen house is still in original condition, but with the timber floorboards now polished and an extension out the back.
“This room is still original, we’ve added a cupboard, but it's still got its old ceiling in just like in 1953,” Fred proudly said on a tour of the house.
“This door is still the same, the old doorknob is on there, I haven't changed them yet,” he adds, turning the squeaking old brass handle.
Some things have changed, including the installation of air-conditioning.
“I used to have to hose the front of the house down to cool it down,” Marijke said laughing.
None of the Dutch houses are heritage listed. Some in private hands will survive, like the van Breemen house.
“They want us to sell it, they want us to move out, they want to pull it down, we just don't want to leave,” Fred said.
“We're happy here,” adds Marijke.
