Heritage Listed Series: Simplex Elevators and The Queen Alexandra Home

Queen Alexandra Home is located on Brisbane’s Old Cleveland Road in Coorparoo and was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on the 21st of October 1992. 


The Queen Alexandra Home, Coorparoo


The villa is one of the oldest surviving brick residences in the suburb and demonstrates the development of Coorparoo as a residential area from the 1880s. Originally built in 1886, this two-story rendered brick masonry building was home to businessman, Reuben Nicklin, who was a manager of a saddlery and ironmonger firm.

1911 photograph of the Queen Alexandra Home
(Photo: © 1911 John Oxford Library)
In 1911, the building was acquired by the Methodist Church, who converted it into a home for children from destitute families. After a change of policy occurred in 1960, the last of the children were moved out, and since tenants have included catering, hospitality, and tourism. The building is now a valuable local asset that is available for community use and can be hired out by the public.

1911 picture of orphanage
(Photo: © 1919 John Oxford Library)

In 1988, Simplex Elevators installed a Goods Lift into the two-storey kitchen wing located at the rear of the building, providing a helping hand to waitstaff. This piece of lifting equipment has stood the test of time - 32 years later the Simplex team is still servicing the same Goods Lift twice per year!

Old photograph of a chef using a dumbwaiter
(Photo: Simplex Elevators Goods Lift in The Queen Alexandra Home. This photo was later used in a Yellow Pages Advertisement in 2003)

Simplex Elevators has been lifting the standard since 1976 and has spent the past 44 years providing access and lifting solutions for people all over the country. Being permitted to work in a heritage-listed building is something we do not take lightly - the trust involved in historical projects such as this is a privilege. We are a local, family-owned business and are proud to be a part of Queensland’s history.

The Queen Alexandra Home in 2011
(Photo: © 2011 the foto fanatic)

Want to learn more about our services or history? Get in touch today!

#SIMPLEXELEVATORS