Former Hamewith House property turned into residential care facility, disability care centre

New developments around an iconic regional Qld homestead look to continue its 100-year legacy of providing disability support and residential care as it’s revealed an Aussie cricket star is behind it.

Since being subdivided into two separate plots, a famous ex-cricketer is behind one a surrounding residential complex at Hamewith House.

A former cricket legend has been revealed as the director behind a company developing a well-known historical estate in the western parts of Toowoomba.

Construction has been moving ahead on a development of more than 30 units surrounding the former property of 24-36 Drayton Rd, known as Hamewith House.

The 1.45ha property was subdivided into two separate lots in 2019, with the historic homestead of Hamewith House in the centre purchased by Holistic Community, and the surrounding horseshoe lot bought by CA 6 Toowoomba Pty Ltd, under director Craig John McDermott.

The same former Queensland quick bowler who was been acknowledged for winning Australia its first World Cup, and in 2020 was inducted in to cricket’s Hall of Fame.

Cricket - SA vs Queensland Sheffield Shield match at Adelaide Oval, 08 Feb 1992. Queensland bowler Craig McDermott took 6/58 against SA. (Pic by unidentified staff photographer)

According to RP data records, his company, CA 6 Toowoomba, bought the lot in 2021, after plans for a 34-unit development was approved by Toowoomba Regional Council in 2020.

The original plans have had amendments since then, and showed a layout of a variety of two, three, and four bedroom units in a half circle around the 130-year-old Hamewith House, which is a separate property.

Now as construction heads towards completion, plans have slightly changed again to include a residential care facility to be built, alongside 25 units, ranging from 2-4 bedrooms.

The development surrounding the Hamewith House includes a residential facility and 25 units.

The residential care facility will include eight 2-bedroom units, one room for the resident, and the other as an overnight assistance bedroom.

The change was approved by council in November, and work is also in progress on Hamewith House, which is owned by Holistic Community Care, a disability and care organisation. 

From the outside, the gardens surrounding the grand old lady of a house have been cleaned up, with a tall green fence replacing the old white gate – but still preserving the former gate display.

24-36 Drayton Road, Harristown, known as Hamewith. Picture taken in the early 1900s.

The iconic house continues to stand with a guard of tall, mature trees lining the streetfront, and was built for Arthur Beelbee, a Toowoomba accountant, at the turn of the 18th Century.

It was then sold to Dr David Horn in 1916, who transformed it into a home and school for children with disabilities, which it remained for the next 86 years, managed in the latter 48 years by Endeavour Foundation.

It then became a private home until 2019, when it was subdivided and later bought by Holistic Community Care.

Craig McDermott was contacted for comment.