REVEALED: Grand plans for one of city’s oldest homes

IT’S one of Toowoomba’s oldest homes, and thanks to the work of a local building company, Millbrook will be preserved and enjoyed for years to come.

Josh Poynter, JRP Building, out the front of historic Millbrook home. JRP is handling the renovation of the heritage-listed 1860s Toowoomba home in Phillip St, Toowoomba City.

IT'S one of Toowoomba's oldest homes, and thanks to the work of a local building company, Millbrook will be preserved and enjoyed for years to come.

JRP Building is working on the restoration of the 160-year-old home in Phillip St.

It's a process JRP Building managing director Josh Poynter is enjoying.

Millbrook is a heritage-listed home that was originally built for William Henry Groom, Toowoomba's first mayor, in the 1860s.

Groom is known as one of Toowoomba's founding fathers, and during his career served as the inaugural mayor, was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly, and also to the Darling Downs electorate at the inaugural Australian Federal Election in 1901.

3D renders of the proposed renovation of Millbrook at 9 Phillip St, Toowoomba City. JRP Building/StruXi.

Originally, Millbrook was built on Ruthven St, but in 1902 his widow, Grace Groom, had the house picked up and moved by bullock and cart to Phillip St as she found the city's main thoroughfare had become too busy.

More than a century after it was moved, Millbrook is beginning a new chapter.

"Millbrook is such a beautiful home, so many people have an affiliation with it in some way or another, and I would hate to see another grand home left to ruin," Mr Poynter said.

The plan is the restore the home and find a commercial tenant or tenants for the building and grounds.

Mr Poynter said there was a vision for a large cafe or restaurant out the back, with a gated section where young families could bring their kids to run around, while the parents relax.

3D renders of the proposed renovation of Millbrook at 9 Phillip St, Toowoomba City. JRP Building/StruXi.

He said once the renovation was done, there would be space for undercover parking, 350 sq m of leasable area downstairs, 75 sq m of leasable area upstairs, and 1400 sq m of garden/cafe area.

Construction began in mid-January and is expected to be complete, pending approvals, by early next year.