Wallflowers: ‘Rinaultrie’, Toowoomba – a blog

Anna Rowe, Wallflowers: ‘Rinaultrie’, Toowoomba, State Library Queensland, 19 September 2025

Guest blogger: Anna Rowe – 2025 Digital collections catalyst

When it came to picking wallflowers to consider in detail, it was hard to go past ‘Rinaultrie’ in Toowoomba – home to the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers. ‘Rinaultrie’ is a bit of a mystery, as the exact location of the house is unclear, but from the moment I zoomed in and saw its beautiful floral wallpaper, I was intrigued and had to know more!

Sitting room at Rinaultrie showing period furniture and decoration, c1900.
Sitting room at Rinaultrie showing period furniture and decoration, c1900,  6129, Toowoomba and Dalby District glass plate negatives, 1900-1930, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Image number: 6129-0001-0016. (1)

Exploring Colour and Pattern

Colour is an important interior design element. It can influence how we perceive, experience and even interact with a space. Colourisation can be an effective tool in bringing black and white images of historical interiors from places like ‘Rinaultrie’ to life. Traditionally done by hand, in recent times AI-powered applications and other digital tools have enabled the quick and easy visualisation of images from the past in colour.

Sitting room at Rinaultrie showing period furniture and decoration, c1900, Image colourised using online application: www.imagecolorizer.com.au.
Sitting room at Rinaultrie showing period furniture and decoration, c1900,  6129, Toowoomba and Dalby District glass plate negatives, 1900-1930, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Image number: 6129-0001-0016. (1) Image colourised using online application: www.imagecolorizer.com.
Dining room of the home Rinaultrie showing table setting and period furniture, ca. 1900. Image colourised using online application: www.imagecolorizer.com.au.
Dining room of the home Rinaultrie showing table setting and period furniture, ca. 1900,  6129, Toowoomba and Dalby District glass plate negatives, 1900-1930, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Image number: 6129-0001-0009. (2) Image colourised using online application: www.imagecolorizer.com.
Drawing room at Rinaultrie with piano and period furniture, ca. 1900. Image colourised using online application: www.imagecolorizer.com.au.
Drawing room at Rinaultrie with piano and period furniture, ca. 1900,  6129, Toowoomba and Dalby District glass plate negatives, 1900-1930, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, Image number: 6129-0001-0018. (3) Image colourised using online application: www.imagecolorizer.com.

However, image colourisation has its limitations, particularly in representing the detailed patterns of decorative finishes such as wallpapers, which can be sometimes appear as textural background elements.

To better understand and visualise the wallpaper pattern at ‘Rinaultrie’, I digitally reconstructed it in detail. I began by analysing its composition, then drew the lines and shapes as vectors, assigning and grouping layers based on the tonal qualities of the original photograph. Some interpretation was required, with artistic licence used where elements were unclear. This digital reconstruction enables the pattern to be viewed at any scale and in unlimited colourways and will form part of the Wallflowers project digital interactive experience.

Read the full article here