Wairuna is a heritage-listed detached house at 27 Hampstead Road, Highgate Hill, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

[1] Wairuna was constructed as the residence of James Allan between 1896 and 1900, to the design of fine Brisbane architect Robin Dods.

Allan and Stark were operating from the mid-1880s and remained in business as a major Queensland department store until they were taken over by Myer in the later half of the twentieth century.

Wairuna was constructed in several stages from 1896 until 1900 and there is suggestion that the original house in which the couple were living was somehow incorporated in the new Dods' designed residence.

Dods was articled in Edinburgh to Hay and Henderson and also attended classes of the local Architectural Association, before moving to London and joining the office of prominent nineteenth century architect, Sir Aston Webb in 1890.

Wairuna is certainly an example of this integration of ideas, a finely designed building following the Arts and Crafts tradition with a high pitched complex roof, multi gabled and bayed projections and an overall picturesque quality, achieved whilst obtaining a comfortable and livable Queensland house.

[1] Wairuna is a substantial mostly one storeyed elevated timber building on a prominent site in Hampstead Road, Highgate Hill.

The building is lined on the northern facade, facing toward the central business district, with a wide timber framed verandah.

The internal rooms are generally generously sized spaces and the interior is a substantially intact late nineteenth century residence, although many of the service areas have been refitted with modern facilities.

The building is a good example of the work of Robin Dods, adapting Arts and Crafts design philosophy with the climatic constraints posed by sub-tropical dwelling.