Archer Chambers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Archer Chambers, Rockhampton |
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Archer Chambers, 2002
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| Location | 206 Quay Street, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1870s |
| Official name: Evans & Hearn, Archer Chambers | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600809 |
| Significant period | 1870s (fabric) 1870s-ongoing (historical use as offices) |
| Significant components | loading bay/dock |
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Archer Chambers is an old building in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. It was built in the 1870s. It used to be a house, but now it's an office building. It is also known as Evans & Hearn, which is the name of the accountants who own it today. This building is special because it is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's an important historical place.
Contents
History of Archer Chambers
The Archer Chambers building was built in the 1870s for the Archer family. They were important pioneers in the Rockhampton area. William Archer bought the land for the building in 1858. The building is on Quay Street, which became a busy street in the late 1800s. This street was important because it was near the wharves on the Fitzroy River. Ships would come and go from these wharves.
The Archer Family and Rockhampton
The Archer brothers, William and Charles, explored the area in 1853. They found and named the Fitzroy River. In 1855, they started a cattle station called Gracemere. They chose the spot where Rockhampton is now as their port. A settlement grew around the Fitzroy River. In 1858, the area was officially named a "Port of Entry." This meant it was a main place for ships to come into the country.
Rockhampton's Growth
In 1858, many people came to Canoona looking for gold. This helped Rockhampton become a major port in central Queensland. The port helped move gold, copper, animal hides, and wool from the inland areas. In 1867, the Central Western railway line was built from Rockhampton. This made it even easier to move goods through the port. Rockhampton became a key trade and communication center. Until 1903, the port was the only way to connect to the outside world.
Quay Street's Importance
Quay Street was one of the first parts of Rockhampton to be settled. It became the heart of the city. The wharves along Quay Street led to many businesses being built there from the 1860s to the early 1900s. Archer Chambers was built in the 1870s. This was before many of the other grand buildings on Quay Street. Those later buildings were built with money from the gold found at Mount Morgan in 1882. Archer Chambers shows how the port helped the city grow early on.
The Archer Family's Legacy
Archer Chambers was built specifically for the Archer family. This shows how important they were in Rockhampton. After starting the town and port in the 1850s, the Archer brothers kept helping Rockhampton grow. Charles and William were joined by their brothers Colin and Archibald. Archibald became a member of the Queensland Parliament from 1867 to 1870. Many places in Rockhampton are named after the Archer family. These include Archer Park, Archer Street, and the Archer Park Rail Museum.
Colin Archer was the last of the Archer brothers to die in Rockhampton in 1921. In that same year, Archer Chambers began to be rented out as offices. In 1947, a company bought the building. In 1960, it was sold again. Today, accountants Evans & Hearn own the building. They bought it in 1975.
What Archer Chambers Looks Like
Archer Chambers is right on Quay Street. It is next to the Rockhampton Customs House on one side and the Royal Bank Building on the other.
The building is made of brick and has one floor. It is long and divided into three main parts from front to back. A single roof, made of metal, covers the whole building.
Front Section
The front part of the building is mostly one large office space. The outside walls are covered in cement. Inside, the brick walls are covered in plaster. The office walls are made of timber with panels. Some walls are made of glass panels in metal frames. These separate smaller offices. The ceiling in the office area is a false ceiling. This hides wires and air conditioning pipes. But the original ceiling is still there above it.
The front of the building looks balanced. It has a door in the middle with large windows on each side. These windows have metal frames. There used to be an awning (a roof-like cover) over the front, but it has been replaced. Below this new awning, the front of the building is covered in tiles. A wall at the top hides the roof from the street. This wall has a curved shape in the middle. The building only has three other windows. These are on the side facing the Customs House. They are wooden windows with steel bars for protection.
Middle and Back Sections
The middle part of the building is smaller. It has exposed brick walls both inside and out. You can see the roof supports and timber frames for a loft (an upper floor) in this section. Simple wooden supports attached to the timber frames hold up shelves.
The back part of the building is about the same size as the front. It also has exposed frames, roof supports, and brick walls. The brick wall at the very back is painted. A large opening at the back allows vehicles to drive into the building. This opening used to be arched, but it was changed to fit a roller door.
Why Archer Chambers is Heritage-Listed
Archer Chambers was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it is important for several reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history developed.
* The building was built in the 1870s for William Archer. It is part of the historic Quay Street area. This area is known for its late 1800s business buildings. * The Quay Street area shows how important the Port of Rockhampton was. This port served a large part of central Queensland from 1858. * The port helped Rockhampton become the main business city in central Queensland. The wharves on the river led to many businesses being built along Quay Street. This made it the main business area of the city. * The strong, solid buildings showed how wealthy Rockhampton was. They also showed that people believed in Rockhampton's future.
- It is beautiful to look at.
* The building adds to the nice look of Quay Street. The tops of Archer Chambers and the old Royal Bank building next door line up. This makes the street look like it did in the 1800s.
- It is important to the community.
* Archer Chambers is special to the people of Rockhampton. This is because of its beauty and its historical importance to Quay Street. For many people, Quay Street is a symbol of Rockhampton. It is closely linked to the city's image.
- It is connected to important people or groups in Queensland's history.
* Archer Chambers is especially connected to the Archer family. They were the first settlers of Rockhampton.
