While trained in Queensland, his London experiences and knowledge of the Arts and Crafts and Edwardian Classicism were expressed in some of his buildings.

However, he tended to employ a Free style, modifying the prevailing Queensland vernacular by introducing individualist elements.

His English experiences are reflected in the classicist detailing of entrance pediments using timber, joinery and internal fittings.

His Toowoomba works include Kensington, Tor, Austral Hall, Glennie School, Ascot House and Defiance Flour Mill.

He was also responsible for buildings in Brisbane and other parts of the state such as the Allora grandstand, Oakey Post Office, Jondaryn Queensland National Bank, and the Hotel Corones, Charleville.

The 15-foot (4.6 m) wide service wing stretching out behind the house contained the pantry, kitchen and laundry, extending of this was a storeroom and servant's room.

[1] Both Andrew and Ellen Crombie were born in Tasmania, however, they started married life in New South Wales in October 1874, where he was managing a large property.

Crombie in his book, After sixty years, or, Recollections of an Australian bushman, mentioned that he and CW Little of Coreena Station were the first to ship frozen sheep from Queensland to London on the owner's account.

[1] It was during his retirement that Andrew Crombie wrote his reminiscences which were published in serial form under the title of "Pioneering days" in The Queenslander during 1924 and 1925.

Subsequently, Watson Ferguson published his work in book form, as After sixty years, or, Recollections of an Australian bushman in 1927.

The verandah is edged with a triple rail dowel balustrade and is open except for the end bay on the left side.

A long paved drive down the right hand side leads to the old garage and shed at the very rear of the property.

Andrew Crombie was a progressive pastoralist involved in promoting the export of frozen lamb and establishing the first graziers association.

For pastoralists and other rural people Toowoomba was important as social and education centre and place to move to when retiring from the land.

Elphin is a large low-set timber house designed by Toowoomba architect William Hodgen in 1907 for Andrew Crombie.

Elphin is an excellent example of a large Toowoomba timber home that was designed by prominent architect William Hodgen.

The siting of the house, the design of the building, its fine classical detailing and layout of the garden with its mature plantings exhibited aesthetic characteristics of the early 1900s that are still valued by the community.