Completed in 1851, Shafston House is one of the earliest surviving houses in Brisbane and a landmark to the people of the city. It is the third oldest house in Queensland, after Newstead House built in 1846 and Bulimba House built between 1849 and 1850.
The story of Shafston begins when construction started on a single story cottage known as Ravenscott, built by a clergyman, the Reverend Robert Creyke. In 1852 Henry Stuart Russell, a prominent grazier and Member of Parliament, purchased the property as a home for his family. Russell made significant changes to the building and renamed it Shafston House after the birthplace of his wife who was from Shafston, Jamaica in the West Indies.
For over sixty years Shafston House continued as a family home and during that time further alterations were made including the porch, bay windows, verandas and the attic. Many prominent citizens of Brisbane lived at Shafston House. These included the Hon. Louise Hope who introduced the growing of sugar cane to Australia, the Hon. Gilbert Elliot the first Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and a number of other solicitors and doctors.