Yungaba was constructed in 1890 as a private residence for John Ferguson's daughter Catherine Jane Ferguson and her husband, solicitor, Charles Sydney Jones (co-founder of Rees Jones Solicitors), one of the oldest surviving legal practices in Queensland today.

The house was named "Killin" after Ferguson's parish in Scotland but was popularly known by locals as "McRich" which may be loosely interpreted as "son of rich man".

The exact extent of works is not clearly understood but it is likely that included the roof top promenade deck and chapel constructed at the north east corner of the house.

George Thomas Eaton and Albert Edmund Bates opened their practice in Rockhampton in 1894 having both previously worked for John Kirkpatrick in Sydney.

Their practice flourished and branches were opened in Mount Morgan, Longreach, Clermont, Townsville and Rockhampton before moving their main office to Brisbane in 1902.

It is reported that the promenade deck resounded with music and laughter whenever young people gathered for private dances which were part of the social life of the times.

[1] During World War II the house was commandeered from Grant by the United States Army as General Robert L. Eichelberger's headquarters.

Premier Ned Hanlon requested the building be given a new name of Aboriginal origin meaning welcome or resting place.

The Brisbane immigration depot was officially renamed "Yungaba" (an aboriginal word meaning "land of the sun").

The house was occupied by Families Youth and Community Care who use the building for administrative and interview purposes, followed by Disability Services Queensland until around 2007.

Apart from the adaptive works undertaken in the initial postwar period, the government had made few alterations to the building fabric of the house.

Yungaba Migrant Hostel is a fine intact example of a late nineteenth century grand house.

A number of significant trees located along the Ward street frontage obscure a complete view of the house beyond.

Internally the short entry hall leads to a central two storeyed open space naturally lit by the clerestorey roof above.

These alterations were easily distinguished from the original fabric and form of the house by the use of different materials including asbestos cement and masonite wall sheeting.

Additional timber windows, doors and associated joinery added in the immigration period were very simplistic and understated.

The building is a simple timber framed and weatherboard clad structure with a galvanised iron hip roof.

[1] Yungaba Migrant Hostel was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 March 2000 having satisfied the following criteria.

Yungaba Migrant Hostel is important in demonstrating the evolution of Queensland's history, reflecting the Federal Government's post war initiatives to increase immigration in order to fuel the economy.

Designed for the sub-tropical Queensland climate, it is a fine example of a substantial timber residence on the Athelstane Range, Rockhampton.

Overlooking the town, the Range area was sought after by the affluent families of Rockhampton from the late nineteenth century onwards.

[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.