Dods was a prolific, innovative and highly skilled architect whose work moved the Queensland timber house tradition forward.

[1] In the mid 19th century the "Lyndhurst" site was included in a parcel of just under 30 acres (12 ha) alienated in 1858 by Theodore Franz of Kedron Brook.

This land was subdivided in the late 1870s and again in the mid-1890s and following the second subdivision, John Reid acquired title in September 1896 to a block of 3 acres (1.2 ha) 18.8 perches (480 m2) with a frontage to London Road.

Reid had come to Queensland from Victoria in 1882 and established the Zillmere bacon curing works north of Brisbane for JC Hutton & Co in about 1890.

Reid was also associated with the Yangan cheese factory near Warwick (established 1893) and was Chairman of Directors of the Nambour sugar mill.

Completing his articles, Dods moved to London in 1890, where he worked for a number of architects, including the prestigious firm of Aston Webb and Ingress Bell.

Dods' training in London placed him amongst the third generation of Arts and Crafts-based architects, contemporary with Edwin Lutyens, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Frank Lloyd Wright.

Central to his philosophy was a belief in developing a new architecture based on regional tradition, clearly expressed in his subsequent domestic work in Brisbane.

The pediment itself was cranked along the sides, reflecting a subtle change in pitch as the steep roof flattened out slightly over the verandahs.

[1] Internally, the walls were sheeted with innovative narrow, vertically jointed pine boards and the ceilings with pressed metal of Art Nouveau design.

[1] The service wing at the rear projected to the west at right angles to the main house, and contained kitchen, two pantries and a ground level washhouse.

Queensland Post Office Directories list William A Macdonald as a resident from 1921-22 until at least 1940, although a Mrs Buss is thought to have lived at Lyndhurst in the 1930s.

It was subsequently sold to the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association to be incorporated into Clayfield College, where it was redeveloped into an early childhood learning centre (opened 2008).

The area beneath the house is enclosed with concrete blocks that have been rendered to match the exterior fibrous cement sheeting.

[1] The roof is steeply pitched and composed of two large hips that are symmetrically arranged around a central axis through the front elevation and are clad in terracotta Marseilles pattern tiles.

[1] The existing external walls of the house are clad with fibrous cement sheeting fitted to a timber frame that incorporates the original verandah posts.

Internally, most of the original rooms are lined in narrow vertically jointed pine boards, though some are clad in fibrous cement sheeting.

In part of the former kitchen wing, narrow lining boards have only been used on one side of the wall, leaving the timber frame exposed.

Robert (Robin) Smith Dods is noted for the introduction of ideas on architectural design that were then current in the United Kingdom and integrating them with traditional Queensland forms and materials.

'Lyndhurst' is important for its association with the life and work of RS (Robin) Dods, an innovative and influential architect who made a major contribution to the development of housing design in Queensland.

It is an early and influential example of his work, adapting Arts and Crafts design philosophy with the climatic constraints posed by sub tropical dwelling.

[1] The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.

'Lyndhurst' is important for its association with the life and work of RS (Robin) Dods, an innovative and influential architect who made a major contribution to the development of housing design in Queensland.