 It is a rare, intact, and fine example of a suburban estate; its evolution over several stages (the earliest believed to date from the 1860s) well illustrating the development of Brisbane and one of its earliest suburbs, Hamilton.The early masonry core of the house, with surviving lower service area, is both a fine and rare surviving example of its type.The more idiosyncratic nature of Lochiel is more particularly found however in the form, placement, and exuberant detailing of the substantial timber additions (museum and upper eastern wing by 1927) and in the very building of the museum room as a purpose built private exhibition space.