Isn’t it captivating how a building can whisper tales of a bygone era? We are standing before Santa Barbara. This heritage-listed villa at 209 Moray Street tells a story of ambition. It speaks of architectural flair. This is Santa Barbara in New Farm.
Santa Barbara was built between 1929 and 1930. Eric Percival Trewern designed it. DF Roberts built it for Sarah Balls. The villa was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on January 28, 2000.
Sarah Balls was a businesswoman. She was the widow of builder John Irwin Balls. John and Sarah married in Brisbane in 1881. He later became a publican. In 1887, John partnered with Henry Smith. They formed Smith and Balls. They were builders and contractors. By 1889, they had worked on warehouses and hotels. The partnership did not survive the depression. From 1892 to 1896, John and Sarah ran the Queensland Hotel in Ipswich. John died in Western Australia in 1898. Sarah moved to Maryborough and ran the Queen’s Hotel. By 1902, she returned to Brisbane. She ran the Prince of Wales Hotel and the Stock Exchange Hotel.
Sarah Balls diversified her business interests in the early 1900s. She had refreshment rooms at Isis Junction from 1908. She also had them at Helidon from 1911. She built brick premises in Margaret Street around 1912 for Smith & Balls’ Acme Engineering Works. By 1917, Sarah retired from hotel work. She moved to Hamilton but kept her business interests.
In July 1929, Sarah applied to build a brick residence. It was to cost 4,000 pounds. Eric Percival Trewern called for tenders. Douglas F Roberts won the contract.
EP Trewern’s architectural practice was successful. He popularized Georgian revival. He also designed Spanish Mission and Old English styles. Santa Barbara is among his best residential designs. Some consider it the finest example of Spanish Mission style in Brisbane. It was one of the most expensive homes built in Brisbane at that time. Trewern also designed a similar residence nearby.
Santa Barbara was completed by May 1930. It was admired for its unique mission style. Its Cordova tile roof was impressive. In 1933, a magazine featured the building. It emphasized the Mediterranean elements. It also highlighted the sub-tropical garden. In 1936, a newspaper called it one of New Farm’s most admired homes.
Sarah Balls died in 1932. In 1933, Santa Barbara went to her daughter Eva Muriel Lissner. Eva lived at Santa Barbara through the 1930s. After her death in 1954, it went to her son. In 1956, he sold it to the Stellmack family. The Wigan family purchased it in 1969.
Santa Barbara stands as a reminder of an era. It embodies architectural elegance. It reflects the ambition of Sarah Balls and the skill of Eric Percival Trewern. Today, Santa Barbara remains a landmark. It is a testament to Brisbane’s architectural heritage.