The House Detective

The House Detective HIRE ME to uncover the history of your house! When was it built? Did it have a name? Who lived there? Hi there!
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My name is Marianne Taylor, but my alter ego is The House Detective. I am an architectural historian, which sounds a bit fancy pants, but basically means that I research the history of buildings, especially houses. I absolutely love what I do and think it is the best job in the world! I'm also a massive history nerd in general and let's face it, I'd probably hang out in archives for fun, even if I

wasn't getting paid for it. Here's a quick summary of my qualifications and experience:

Qualifications:

- Graduate Diploma in Local, Family and Applied History from University of New England
- Bachelor of Science with Honours from Griffith University

Experience:

- Over 15 years experience as an historian, primarily focussed on architectural history
- Over 12 years experience in the heritage industry, including 3 years as Heritage Strategist with Queensland Rail and 3 years as Senior Heritage Officer with the QLD Government

Awards:

- 2019: Silver Award, National Trust Queensland Heritage Awards, for the Kuranda Railway Station Conservation Management Plan (I researched and wrote the background history section).
- 2015/2016: Helen Taylor Research Award for my Brisbane Retro project, researching and documenting Brisbane's post-war houses

When I'm not researching houses or hanging out in archives, you will find me:

- Watching history documentaries (hey, I told you I was a tragic history nerd!)
- Watching period dramas (my favourite is Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South, followed closely by BBC's Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth as Darcy and THAT wet shirt scene- ladies I know you're with me!)
- Reading books, buying books, categorising my books, researching new books to buy, creating wish lists of books I want to buy, convincing myself that just because I haven't read all the books I have, it doesn't mean I can't buy new books
- Trawling through real estate websites looking for cool old houses or retro pads
- Watching classic old movies and tragic 80s/90s movies
- Camping and four wheel driving and exploring this awesome country of ours!

17/06/2026

Anyone know what this interesting looking item is??

Kew Historical Society Inc.

16/06/2026

Get into the wonderful Restoration Station at Ashgrove to grab a $200 off voucher for my house history research! BUT it is a treasure trove of Queenslander restoration supplies, so I take no responsibility for all the money you may spend whilst you’re there!!!!! 😍😍😍

*In David Attenborough’s voice*: “Here we have the house detectivus in her natural habitat”. Can you tell I was a bit ex...
16/06/2026

*In David Attenborough’s voice*: “Here we have the house detectivus in her natural habitat”. Can you tell I was a bit excited to peek into the cellar in the kitchen of the incredible Dovercourt at Toowong? I feel so privileged to have seen inside this beautiful home with Chris from Big House Little House and Peta from Brisbane Town Planning!!! You can check out the incredible restoration journey on their Instagram page dovercourt_heritagerestoration !

14/06/2026

QPAC

10/06/2026
🏠✨ NEW EPISODE!!!! One house. Five incredible stories!Whilst researching a home in Ascot, I uncovered SO MANY fascinatin...
09/06/2026

🏠✨ NEW EPISODE!!!! One house. Five incredible stories!

Whilst researching a home in Ascot, I uncovered SO MANY fascinating stories!

From an 18-year-old woman who enlisted in the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force during WWII, to a barber-bookmaker who had a poem written about him in the newspaper, to friendly fire on the Brisbane River during WWI, this house just kept delivering surprises!

I also went down a rabbit hole into a magnificent north-side estate and discuss the history of the amazing house and the street names connected to it. Plus, I discovered where Brisbane's "most aristocratic suburb" was in 1906!

And don't even get me started on the confusing number of things called "Lerline"... 😂

🎥 Watch it here now! https://youtu.be/ZhLbfSbP3yk

What do a barber-bookmaker, a pioneering woman in the Air Force, fr...

Thank you indeed! Especially all the wonderful staff Queensland State Archives!! 🩷🩷🩷
08/06/2026

Thank you indeed! Especially all the wonderful staff Queensland State Archives!! 🩷🩷🩷

📜🌏 Happy International Archives Day!

Today, we celebrate the vital role archives play in preserving the stories, records, and history that shape who we are. As the custodian of Queensland’s documentary heritage, QSA safeguards millions of records that capture the decisions, events, and lives that have defined our state.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible archivists, whose dedication ensures that these invaluable records are preserved, protected, and made accessible for generations to come. Your work is the backbone of Queensland’s history, and we are so grateful for all that you do. 🙌

🎉 Don’t forget to join us on 12 June for a special event at QSA! Dive into the fascinating world of archival treasures and discover how these records shape our understanding of the past.

📅 When: Friday, 12 June 2026
⏰ Time: 10.30 AM – 12.00 PM
📍 Where: Queensland State Archives, Runcorn
🔗 Register now: https://bit.ly/4fEHdYm

06/06/2026
My Mum’s environment group is holding this tomorrow! They are always such fun days, especially for the kids!! Did you al...
06/06/2026

My Mum’s environment group is holding this tomorrow! They are always such fun days, especially for the kids!! Did you also know we have platypus right here in Brisbane in creeks at Sumner Park? 😱 Come and learn more! And to make this a history related post- it’s near the former WW2 site of Camp Columbia, which you can walk to and check out! Oh and did I mention there’s free coffee? ☕️ 🥰

Wolston and Centenary Catchments (WaCC)

https://campcolumbia.com.au/key-maps-for-the-heritage-plan/

When your husband proofreads your history of a stunning c1885 home, but also includes his thoughts on changes made by pr...
01/06/2026

When your husband proofreads your history of a stunning c1885 home, but also includes his thoughts on changes made by previous owners 🤣🤣🤣

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