[1] Idavine, a residence at 2 Burnett Street, West Ipswich, is a timber house for which existing evidence indicates a construction date during the Federation Period.

Although extant records indicate Berry was a farmer by occupation, it is known that he was also a land owner and was referred to in his death documents as a freeholder.

[1] Despite Berry's real estate interests in Burnett Street, allotment 100 remained unimproved during his ownership.

[1] No documentary evidence exists to definitively date the residence which is now located at 2 Burnett Street, however the overall form of the house, ascertained through site inspection, suggests it was built in the Federation period, possibly after the turn of the century.

It is unlikely that the current house was constructed by August Knopke and the link between the name "Idavine" and its owner in 1913, Ida Retschlag (née Boettcher), may be significant.

The property remained in the Lewis-Runge family for the next 60 years and it was reputedly during this period that the house was at one-time used as flats.

It is significant to note that following the establishment of an immigration incentive scheme in Germany during the late 19th century, German emigrants formed close communities in many Queensland towns and the association of this house with German owners from 1886 onwards is symptomatic of their influential presence in the Ipswich area.

The front verandah provides the visitor with an uninterrupted vista along Limestone Street, the approach route from the town centre.

While the timber floor framing appeared to be in good condition, it was noted that a number of steel bearers had been introduced.

[1] The bargeboards to the verandah gable are shaped and rounded at each end, with a star pattern cut out from the resulting panel of timber.

[1] Entry to the verandah is gained via stairs at right angles to the gable projection and through a set of double lattice doors.

The panels display a cornucopia design motif featuring two horns, one filled with fruit and the other with vegetables.

[1][2] The combined effect of the cast iron balustrading and the decorative timberwork to the verandah is to give the house a strong street presence.

The cast iron balustrading and handrail continues for almost the entire length of the eastern face of the house; however part of the verandah is enclosed with windows.

All other ceilings, excluding those in the sleep-out and verandah, which are sheeted, are lined with vertically jointed tongue and groove boarding.

[1] The majority of rooms with windows opening through the western and southern facades of the house have skillion hoods.

A bank of timber, casement windows line the external wall of the kitchen, and open onto a patio, which is recent and roofed with clear PVC sheeting.

Its walls are lined with vertically jointed tongue and groove, and pine boarding divided by a picture rail at door head height.

Taking the evidence of the slope in the ceilings and the location of timber thresholds, fixed glass panels above doors, and exposed framing, it is likely that the kitchen space was open at some point.

[1] The front fence consists of painted timber frame and palings atop a low, stepped brick wall.

A large palm tree shelters part of the front facade, extending the height of the house's western gable end.

A step of approximately 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) runs perpendicular from the rear boundary and meets the underside of the house where the patio has been attached.

A large brick BBQ sits against the eastern fence at the point where the patio stairs empty out.

Idavine at 2 Burnett Street is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history and is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places insofar as it is a representative example of Federation-style residential architecture in a precinct of Ipswich containing historically significant timber and brick houses.

Idavine at 2 Burnett Street is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history and is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places insofar as it is a representative example of Federation-style residential architecture in a precinct of Ipswich containing historically significant timber and brick houses.

Its well-maintained state also gives it individual aesthetic value, with many of its original internal and external features intact.