Brisbane Archives

Of 199 Roma Street, Red Comb House passed away in 1984. Red Comb House was a poultry farmer’s cooperative, where chicken- amongst other things- were farmed at the centre of the city.
Bruce Pascoe used to go buy chicks with his grandmother. Barb Bishop’s parents used to order deliveries from there. Judy Wilson, Jim Cavaye, and Sam Bianchi remember a red neon blinking rooster on top of the Red Comb House. In 1982, Red Comb House became known as ‘One Flat’ when artists in Brisbane started to take over parts of the city as it was slowly getting demolished. The Red Comb House was known for its welcoming nature by allowing for several exhibitions, performances, and practices to take place. Bryan Spencer writes about the Red Comb House as a home for exploration. In fact, Red Comb House represented a safe haven for many.
Red Comb House was survived by a hole for 6 years before being replaced by the Queensland Police Services in 1990.