Erica House was originally owned by Thomas Mulhall King.  He purchased 39 acres in 1885, then moved into his new house in 1890.  The house was designed by well-known Brisbane architect John Jacob Cohen. 

The house was fashionably large and richly decorated.  It comprised of formal sitting and dining rooms, a formal entrance hall, a breakfast room, study, five bedrooms, a billiard room, a large kitchen wing and a separate larder room.  

The name ‘Erica’ was appointed to the house to recall Mount Erica in Prahran, Melbourne where Thomas had previously lived.

The initials of Thomas Mullhall King (TMK) can be seen in the original decorative leadlight work above a doorway within the home.

In 1925 the house was sold to the timber merchant family of Isaiah and Edith Lahey. Isaiah was the uncle of prominent artist Frances ‘Vida’ Lahey.

During the years of WWIII, 1939 to 1945, the home was used as a convalescent home for serviceman – the 10th Camp hospital.

In 1946, Erica House was purchased by the Xavier Society of the Catholic Church as a home for disabled children.  The Xavier Society wished religious sisters to take charge of the project and in 1951 the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary novitiate accepted the challenge to provide the staff and care to meet the needs of the young children.

The sisters trained as nurses, physiotherapists and teachers and over the next few years.  The original building of Erica House was renovated and used as a convent and an additional extension was built to expand the hospital.

On the grounds of the convent stood a statue of Mary in recognition of the work and care given by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary sisters.  This statue of Mary has been recently restored and returned to stand in front of Erica House.

Erica House is now the entrance to Coorparoo Aged Care.