diff --git a/python/core/qgsrasterlayer.sip b/python/core/qgsrasterlayer.sip
index 9cac02f8deb..7eb2db548eb 100644
--- a/python/core/qgsrasterlayer.sip
+++ b/python/core/qgsrasterlayer.sip
@@ -269,16 +269,24 @@ public:
     QString colorShadingAlgorithmAsString() const;
 
     /** \brief Wrapper for GDALComputeRasterMinMax with the estimate option */
-    void computeMinimumMaximumEstimates( int theBand, double* theMinMax );
+    // (would need MethodCode directive) void computeMinimumMaximumEstimates( int theBand, double* theMinMax );
 
     /** \brief Wrapper for GDALComputeRasterMinMax with the estimate option */
-    void computeMinimumMaximumEstimates( QString theBand, double* theMinMax );
+    // (would need MethodCode directive) void computeMinimumMaximumEstimates( QString theBand, double* theMinMax );
+
+    /** \brief Wrapper for GDALComputeRasterMinMax with the estimate option
+      \note added in v1.6 */
+    void computeMinimumMaximumEstimates( int theBand, double& theMin /Out/, double& theMax /Out/ );
+    
+    /** \brief Compute the actual minimum maximum pixel values based on the current (last) display extent */
+    // (would need MethodCode directive) void computeMinimumMaximumFromLastExtent( int theBand, double* theMinMax );
 
     /** \brief Compute the actual minimum maximum pixel values based on the current (last) display extent */
-    void computeMinimumMaximumFromLastExtent( int theBand, double* theMinMax );
+    // (would need MethodCode directive) void computeMinimumMaximumFromLastExtent( QString theBand, double* theMinMax );
 
-    /** \brief Compute the actual minimum maximum pixel values based on the current (last) display extent */
-    void computeMinimumMaximumFromLastExtent( QString theBand, double* theMinMax );
+    /**  \brief Compute the actual minimum maximum pixel values based on the current (last) display extent 
+      \note added in v1.6 */
+    void computeMinimumMaximumFromLastExtent( int theBand, double& theMin /Out/, double& theMax /Out/ );
 
     /** \brief Get a pointer to the contrast enhancement for the selected band */
     QgsContrastEnhancement* contrastEnhancement( unsigned int theBand );
diff --git a/src/core/raster/qgsrasterlayer.cpp b/src/core/raster/qgsrasterlayer.cpp
index 004f32b9141..e9ee586f732 100644
--- a/src/core/raster/qgsrasterlayer.cpp
+++ b/src/core/raster/qgsrasterlayer.cpp
@@ -1243,6 +1243,14 @@ void QgsRasterLayer::computeMinimumMaximumEstimates( QString theBand, double* th
   computeMinimumMaximumEstimates( bandNumber( theBand ), theMinMax );
 }
 
+void QgsRasterLayer::computeMinimumMaximumEstimates( int theBand, double& theMin, double& theMax )
+{
+  double theMinMax[2];
+  computeMinimumMaximumEstimates( theBand, theMinMax );
+  theMin = theMinMax[0];
+  theMax = theMinMax[1];
+}
+
 /**
  * @param theBand The band (number) for which to calculate the min max values
  * @param theMinMax Pointer to a double[2] which hold the estimated min max
@@ -1293,6 +1301,14 @@ void QgsRasterLayer::computeMinimumMaximumFromLastExtent( QString theBand, doubl
   computeMinimumMaximumFromLastExtent( bandNumber( theBand ), theMinMax );
 }
 
+void QgsRasterLayer::computeMinimumMaximumFromLastExtent( int theBand, double& theMin, double& theMax )
+{
+  double theMinMax[2];
+  computeMinimumMaximumFromLastExtent( theBand, theMinMax );
+  theMin = theMinMax[0];
+  theMax = theMinMax[1];
+}
+
 /**
  * @param theBand The band (number) for which to get the contrast enhancement for
  * @return Pointer to the contrast enhancement or 0 on failure
diff --git a/src/core/raster/qgsrasterlayer.h b/src/core/raster/qgsrasterlayer.h
index 92974522555..fc690a9ac1d 100644
--- a/src/core/raster/qgsrasterlayer.h
+++ b/src/core/raster/qgsrasterlayer.h
@@ -440,11 +440,19 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsRasterLayer : public QgsMapLayer
     /** \brief Wrapper for GDALComputeRasterMinMax with the estimate option */
     void computeMinimumMaximumEstimates( QString theBand, double* theMinMax );
 
+    /** \brief Wrapper for GDALComputeRasterMinMax with the estimate option
+      \note added in v1.6 */
+    void computeMinimumMaximumEstimates( int theBand, double& theMin, double& theMax );
+
     /** \brief Compute the actual minimum maximum pixel values based on the current (last) display extent */
     void computeMinimumMaximumFromLastExtent( int theBand, double* theMinMax );
 
     /** \brief Compute the actual minimum maximum pixel values based on the current (last) display extent */
     void computeMinimumMaximumFromLastExtent( QString theBand, double* theMinMax );
+    
+    /**  \brief Compute the actual minimum maximum pixel values based on the current (last) display extent 
+      \note added in v1.6 */
+    void computeMinimumMaximumFromLastExtent( int theBand, double& theMin, double& theMax );
 
     /** \brief Get a pointer to the contrast enhancement for the selected band */
     QgsContrastEnhancement* contrastEnhancement( unsigned int theBand );