A charming three-bedroom Queenslander in Lutwyche is set to welcome new owners for the first time since it was built in 1927, marking the end of an era for the Palmer-Broad family who have called 129 Fuller Street home for nearly a century.
Stephen Broad, 65, has made the difficult decision to sell the home his grandparents, Gordon and Dolly Palmer, built 98 years ago. The property will go under the hammer on 18th October, but with one firm condition: developers need not apply.
“It was a very hard decision to put it up for sale,” Mr Broad told Domain. He explained that while reaching the 100-year milestone would have been meaningful, concerns about the home’s care and the reality that neither his children nor grandchildren plan to live there made selling the right choice.
The home’s rich history is documented in remarkable detail. Mr Broad still possesses the original 1926 land purchase receipt showing his grandparents paid £630 for the block. Among other treasured documents are receipts for connecting electricity (£1) and installing a gas pipe, along with the original blueprints from a 1948 extension, complete with the builder’s handwritten notes.
After his mother Janice Broad (née Palmer) passed away earlier this year at 88, Mr Broad discovered precious family mementoes whilst clearing the house. These included a 1961 photograph of himself as a baby with his mother and grandmother in the front yard, and 1946 war bonds his grandfather never cashed in.
The property holds especially poignant memories for the family. Janice was born in the main bedroom in 1936, with the bottom drawer of the room’s wooden dresser serving as her makeshift crib. Much of the original furniture, purchased from Whincup & Co in Fortitude Valley, remains in the home today.
The Queenslander has been carefully maintained and updated over the decades. Renovations in the 1950s and 1980s added concrete stumps, a rear deck, a modernised kitchen, and a garage below, while preserving the home’s character features including polished floorboards.
Despite offers that might come from developers, Mr Broad is resolute about finding the right buyer. He told Domain that even an extra $200,000 from a developer would result in a definite “no”.
“I’d like to see this house filled with new life,” Mr Broad said, noting that neighbouring properties have recently been purchased by young couples starting families.
The home features one bathroom, multiple living spaces, and a backyard deck, with significant potential for expansion. Its location offers convenient access to transport, parks, cafés, and the CBD.
Sales agent Rohan Banning of REMAX Central Residential described the listing as incredibly unusual, saying he had never encountered a house held by one family for such a length of time.
The property auction will be held on-site on Saturday, 18th October 2025.
Published 30-September-2025