Theodore Oscar Unmack was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1835 and came to Australia in 1853. After several years in Victoria he moved to Queensland in 1860 where he achieved success in business and politics.
For a time Unmack was engaged in the wholesale produce business with another German immigrant, Johann Heussler, and they operated out of Tara House (later to become the home of the Irish Club) in Elizabeth St. It appears that Unmack gave a regular market report that was published in the press for the benefiit of his fellow citizens. From The Queenslander:
Unmack, a prominent Freemason, was the German Consul for two years as well as president of the Chamber of Commerce. In 1888 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly as the member for Toowong and subsequently acted as the Postmaster-General and Secretary for Railways. Here is a photograph from 1889.
![]()
(Photo: SLQ 69368)
In 1885 Unmack purchased land at Moray St, New Farm where he built the subject of today's post - the imposing house overlooking the Brisbane River that he named Moana, a Hawaiian word meaning water or sea, but probably "borrowed" from the name of a hotel. Here are photographs of it, front and back, from 1932. The view from the rear also includes the maids' quarters, testament to the status of the owner of the house.
![]()
(Photo: SLQ 19407)
![]()
(Photo: SLQ 19406)
Architects Banks and Carandini designed Moana and it is believed to be the last surviving example of their domestic architecture. The Unmack family lived there until the early 1920s when it was converted to flats. Theodore Unmack died in 1919.
Moana appears on the Brisbane City Council heritage register. Although it has been modified in the conversion to flats and then the conversion back to a single dwelling in 1986, much of the original character of the house remains. The latest sale of the property I could find was in October 2010 for a tad over $3 million. This is what it looked like at the time.
![]()
(Photo: realestate.com)
And here is today's quick look over the fence at Moana.
![]()
(Photo: © 2016 the foto fanatic)
Click here for a Google Map.
tff
For a time Unmack was engaged in the wholesale produce business with another German immigrant, Johann Heussler, and they operated out of Tara House (later to become the home of the Irish Club) in Elizabeth St. It appears that Unmack gave a regular market report that was published in the press for the benefiit of his fellow citizens. From The Queenslander:
THEODOREUNMACK'S PRODUCE REPORT,WHOLESALE. (The Queenslander, 21 August 1875)There is little change in the market sincelast week; business has, if anything, improved.The holidays have, however, tended to keep itquiet. Flour steady; maize brisker; demandgood ; bran in average request; potatoes verydull of sale, market being crowded with sellers,and consumption moderate; hay still overstocked and quiet; butter well supplied, andin moderate demand. Bacon, 9d per lb ; bran,£9 per ton j butter, 9d per lb; flour, bestAdelaide, £24 to £26 per ton; flour, Tasmania, £22 to £24 per ton; hay, lucerne, £9to £10 per ton ; hay, oaten, £8 to £9 per ton;maize, 5s 8d to 5s 6d per bushel; oats, 4s 6dto 5s per bushel; potatoes, nominal; onions,top ; mould candles, 51/2d to 6d per lbnone ; pollard, £9 10* per ton; soap, £30 per
Unmack, a prominent Freemason, was the German Consul for two years as well as president of the Chamber of Commerce. In 1888 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly as the member for Toowong and subsequently acted as the Postmaster-General and Secretary for Railways. Here is a photograph from 1889.
In 1885 Unmack purchased land at Moray St, New Farm where he built the subject of today's post - the imposing house overlooking the Brisbane River that he named Moana, a Hawaiian word meaning water or sea, but probably "borrowed" from the name of a hotel. Here are photographs of it, front and back, from 1932. The view from the rear also includes the maids' quarters, testament to the status of the owner of the house.
Architects Banks and Carandini designed Moana and it is believed to be the last surviving example of their domestic architecture. The Unmack family lived there until the early 1920s when it was converted to flats. Theodore Unmack died in 1919.
Moana appears on the Brisbane City Council heritage register. Although it has been modified in the conversion to flats and then the conversion back to a single dwelling in 1986, much of the original character of the house remains. The latest sale of the property I could find was in October 2010 for a tad over $3 million. This is what it looked like at the time.
And here is today's quick look over the fence at Moana.
Click here for a Google Map.
tff