Renovating a Post-War Home in Brisbane
Updated: Oct 2
Brisbane’s post-war homes make up a significant part of the city’s established suburbs. Generally simpler than the traditional Queenslanders that preceded them, they were built at a time when materials and labour were constrained and houses tended to be smaller, more economical and less elaborate.
For homeowners considering a substantial Post-war home renovation in Brisbane, this raises an important question:
How much of the existing house is worth retaining?
What do we mean by a post-war home?
Post-war houses were generally built from the late 1940s through the 1960s and beyond. Brisbane examples vary considerably, but many are modest timber or masonry homes with relatively simple roof forms, smaller rooms and fewer of the decorative character features associated with pre-war Queenslanders.
They can, however, occupy excellent sites in established suburbs, often with generous yards, mature landscaping and good access to schools, transport and services.
The opportunity can therefore be as much about making better use of the property as renovating the existing house.
Why can post-war homes be challenging to renovate?
Many post-war homes were designed around a very different way of living.
Smaller kitchens and separate living rooms were common, with less emphasis on natural light, indoor-outdoor living and connection to the backyard.
A contemporary renovation might involve opening up living areas, creating a larger kitchen, adding bedrooms and bathrooms and improving the relationship between the house and garden.
But achieving this can require substantial changes to the existing structure.
Walls may need to be removed, floor levels altered and existing services upgraded. Kitchens and bathrooms may require complete replacement, while roofing, electrical, plumbing and other elements may also need attention.
By the time these works are combined with a substantial extension, the amount of the original house providing genuine value can become surprisingly small.
What is worth keeping?
This is one of the most important questions to answer before designing the renovation.
A structurally sound house that is well positioned on the site and contains useful rooms may provide an excellent starting point.
Conversely, retaining poorly positioned or compromised parts of the house simply because they already exist can constrain the new design and add considerable construction cost.
Unlike many traditional Queenslanders, where character, craftsmanship and original materials can provide a strong reason for retention, the value in a post-war home may lie more in the parts of the existing building that can be economically incorporated into a better overall design.
Sometimes less intervention is better
A successful renovation doesn't necessarily require transforming every part of the house.
Replanning a few key spaces, improving circulation and creating a well-positioned extension can sometimes achieve considerably more than extensively rebuilding the existing structure.
The objective should be to identify where spending money will make the greatest difference to how the home works and feels.
That requires looking at the existing house and the new work together rather than treating the extension simply as additional rooms.
When should you consider rebuilding?
There can be a point where extensive demolition, structural alteration, upgrading and new construction make retaining the existing house increasingly difficult to justify.
That doesn't automatically mean rebuilding is cheaper or better. It means the alternatives are worth properly comparing before committing to a renovation.
Define before you design
Post-war homes are a good example of why we believe in Define Before Design.
Before committing to a major renovation, it makes sense to understand what is genuinely worth retaining, what needs to change, the opportunities presented by the property and what the available budget can realistically achieve.
The aim is to establish the right direction while your options are still open and changes are inexpensive to make.
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