6 Henry St (Myola) in the 1950s. Photo source: Corley Explorer (2026) Corley Explorer

Number 6 Henry Street, known by locals as “Myola”, has a rich and interesting history. This beautiful 4 bedroom, 2-bathroom home boasts Victorian style architectural features such as ornate gable lacework and veranda lacework, central staircase with a grand entryway and sizeable front porch as well as stained glass windows and OGEE gutters, just to name a few of its iconic characteristics (House Histories, 2026). The house also features a large conservatorium, which was once used as a ballroom.

 In 1879, “Myola” was built for owners Rossanah and Daniel Graham. They had the house for 12 years until they sold it to Sarah and Edward McGuiness (Gympie Today, 2023). Edward unsurprisingly was quite well off, working as a mining investor in Gympie. During his time at the residence, he had two extra rooms added to the front and a servants quarters added to the back of the house for the cook, the maid, a stable hand and a gardener (Gympie Times, 2005). It was around this time that the house was given the name “Myola”.

In 1904, the house was sold to George Vaughan, manager of the Gympie Stock Exchange (Gympie Times, 2005). By 1914, the house had been sold to Hugh and Evelyn Walker. Hugh was a mine engineer. The Walkers held the home during the years of the first world war.

In January of 1918, the house was then purchased by Henry Cullinane and his wife Dorothy. Henry Cullinane was the son of Jeremiah Cullinane, who started a general store in central Mary Street called “Cullinanes” and had interests in many local mines. Henry wasn’t as interested in mining, so he decided to help his father with the family business in Mary Street. Less than three months after purchasing the house, in March of 1918, Henry decided he wanted a ballroom, so he purchased half of the block next door and had a ballroom built to the side of the house (CHATI, 2009). From here, it is said that the Cullinane family went on to become well-known members of the community, hosting grand dinner parties, dances and musical soirees at their home. In 1947, sadly Henry’s wife Dorothy passed away, so Henry decided to convert the home into two flats for rent (CHATI, 2009).

When Henry passed away in 1961, the house was left to his daughter Joyce and her husband Eric Coop. They decided to keep renting the house out as two flats. In 1988, the house was purchased by new owners (outside of the Cullinane family) who spent over eight years fully restoring the house to its former glory (Levey, 2023). 6 Henry Street still exists today and is a beautiful reminder of Gympie’s past.

References:

CHATI. (2009). CHATI House Tour Brochure (1st ed.).

Gympie Times- Property Week. (2005, July 30). Myola. Gympie Times, p. 1.

House Histories. (2026). Queensland vintage house designs. https://www.househistories.org/designs

Levey, E. (2023, September 15). Grand old home for sale. Gympie Today, p. 2.