Aplin Brown & Company Building facts for kids

Aplin Brown & Company Building
Aplin Brown & Company Building, 1996
Location	232-234 Flinders Street, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1870s - 1890s (late 19th century)
Built	1887
Architectural style(s)	Classicism
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Aplin Brown & Company Building (former), Buckaroo's Restaurant, Family Services, Toula's Taverna
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	21 October 1992
Reference no.	600919
Significant period	1880s, 1930s (fabric) 1887-c. 1974 (historical- commercial use) 1891-1894 (bank use) 1974-1995 (gov
Builders	Rooney Brothers
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The Aplin Brown & Company Building is a very old and important building located at 232-234 Flinders Street in Townsville CBD, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1887 by a construction company called Rooney Brothers. This building has been known by different names, including Buckaroo's Restaurant and Toula's Taverna. It was officially added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's a special historical place that needs to be protected for future generations.

History of the Building

This building was constructed in 1887. It was built for Aplin Brown & Company, which was one of the most important trading companies in North Queensland at the time. They needed a grand office for their business.

Townsville's Early Days

Townsville was started in 1864. It quickly grew into a busy supply center. By 1873, its port was receiving ships from all over the world. Townsville became even more important by 1880. It was the main port for several big goldfields. It also had the first part of the Great Northern railway line heading west. This made Townsville a key port and business hub. Many successful trading and shipping companies were based here. Aplin Brown & Co. was one of them. Both Mr. Aplin and Mr. Brown even served as mayors of Townsville. This shows how important business was to the city's growth.

Aplin Brown & Company's Growth

William Aplin started his business in Townsville in 1864. He worked with William Clifton as merchants. They bought land near the Ross Creek wharves, which was very convenient. Their first building was destroyed by a cyclone in 1866. They rebuilt it, and Henry Aplin joined the company. In 1879, William Villiers Brown became a partner. He used to manage the Bank of New South Wales in Townsville. By 1880, the company became Aplin Brown & Company. They were one of the top merchant firms in Townsville. They served both the farming industry and the gold mining areas inland. They even imported machinery for mines and factories.

In 1881, William Aplin decided to focus on farming. The company then became a larger, limited company. It continued to grow even more. They had the first steel ship built in Townsville in 1884. In 1885, they bought a wharf in Brisbane. They also opened a branch there that brought in goods from the USA. They set up branches in other towns like Burketown and Port Darwin. In 1887, Aplin Brown & Company asked Rooney Brothers to design their new main office.

The Rooney Brothers

Rooney Brothers was a company run by two Irish brothers, John and Matthew Rooney. John Rooney had been a builder in Maryborough since 1868. In 1875, John moved to Townsville. In 1882, he started a new company with Matthew. They worked as architects, builders, and contractors. They also had another company, Rooney & Co., which sold timber and made wooden items. They supplied timber and ready-made buildings to mining towns.

The New Building's Design

The new Aplin Brown & Company building showed how successful and important the company was. It was a beautiful building made of stone. It had a neo-classical design, which means it looked like old Greek and Roman buildings. It was also designed to work perfectly for the company's needs.

• The ground floor* had rooms leading off a central hall. These rooms were for insurance, shipping, and sales. There was also a private office, offices for bookkeepers and cashiers, and a strong room for valuables.
• The upper floor* had a large room for writing letters and another office. This upper floor did not extend over the sales and shipping area at the back of the ground floor.

Changes Over Time

In 1891, the building was rented out to the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney for three years. The Aplin Brown company still had a connection to the building. In 1899, the property's ownership changed to Aplin Brown and Crawshay Limited. In 1913, another important northern trading company, Bartlam's Limited, bought the building. They were general merchants who supplied farms in western Queensland.

The front of the building on Flinders Street originally had an open arcade with arches. This area was enclosed, probably in the 1930s. The old front wall was removed. This might also be when the decorative railing on the roof, called a balustraded parapet, was taken away. In 1944, the property was transferred to Alfred and Arthur Howard Emery. By 1950, it was owned by the Mutual Life & Citizens Assurance Company Limited.

The building was bought by the Queensland Government in 1974. It was used by the Department of Family Services. During this time, the inside was changed to suit office needs. The government sold the building in 1995. The new owner turned the ground floor into a dress shop. Since 1997, the ground floor has been used as a restaurant.

What the Building Looks Like

The former Aplin Brown & Company building is made of stone. It sits on a unique, wedge-shaped piece of land. It's at the corner of Flinders and Denham Streets. It is across from the post office and the Perc Tucker Art Gallery.

The main part of the building at the corner has two floors. The section at the back along Denham Street has only one floor. The roof is made of corrugated iron and is hidden by a plain wall at the top, called a parapet.

The walls facing Flinders and Denham Streets are smooth and divided into sections by flat, column-like shapes called pilasters. There are also horizontal decorative bands called architraves and a sticking-out ledge called a cornice at the top. Between these decorations are tall, single-pane windows with rounded tops. These windows have decorative moldings around them. The lower level of the front (northern) side used to be an open arcade with arches. These arches have been filled in with windows that look similar to the others.

The main entrance is currently at the eastern end of the Flinders Street side. You walk up several steps to a glass door. Inside, a wooden staircase leads to the upper floor. There was once a special skylight, called a lantern, built above the staircase.

There is also a back entrance to the building from a small lane to the south. The inside of the building has been changed a lot. This was done to create office spaces. Things like air-conditioning, false ceilings, room dividers, and toilets were added.

Why This Building is Special

The former Aplin Brown & Company Building was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it meets certain important standards.

• It shows how Queensland's history developed.

The building's design and quality show how rich Townsville was in the 1880s. It also shows how North Queensland grew by setting up important ports as business and government centers. The Aplin and Company building is located at a major intersection, close to the wharves. It reminds us how important trade was to Townsville's growth.

• It is a great example of a certain type of building.

The former Aplin Brown & Company building is a good example of a large, important office building from the 1800s in North Queensland.

• It is beautiful and adds to the city's look.

The building is at a major intersection of Denham and Flinders Streets. Its design, shape, and materials make it a very important and beautiful part of the city's appearance.

• It is connected to important people and groups in Queensland's history.

The building was built for Aplin Brown & Company. This trading and shipping company helped Townsville become very successful in the 1800s. It is also connected to Bartlam's Limited, another important North Queensland merchant. And it's linked to the Rooney Bros. company, who were very influential architects, builders, and contractors in North Queensland.

See Also

• List of heritage-listed buildings in Townsville