Atkinson & Powell Building facts for kids

Atkinson & Powell Building
Atkinson & Powell Building, 2000
Location	181-183 Flinders Street, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1870s - 1890s (late 19th century)
Built	1887
Architect	Willoughby Powell
Architectural style(s)	Classicism
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Atkinson & Powell Building (former), Matchbox Theatre
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	21 October 1992
Reference no.	600897
Significant period	1880s (fabric) 1887-1965 (historical commercial use)
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The Atkinson & Powell Building is a historic building in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It used to be a pharmacy and now holds different businesses. Designed by Willoughby Powell, it was built in 1887. It's also known as the Matchbox Theatre. This building is special because it's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, meaning it's an important part of Queensland's history.

A Look Back at the Atkinson & Powell Building

The Atkinson & Powell Building was designed in 1886. It was made for a chemist business called Atkinson & Powell. The architect, Willoughby Powell, was actually the brother of Frank Powell, one of the business partners.

How Townsville Grew

Townsville started in 1864, founded by John Melton Black and Robert Towns. By 1865, its port was officially open for ships. The town quickly became a key supply center. By 1873, ships from other countries were coming to Townsville.

The port facilities were improved to handle bigger ships. By 1880, Townsville was an important port for several gold mining areas. It also had the first part of the Great Northern railway line heading west. This made Townsville even more important as a port and trading hub.

Townsville's Building Boom

In the mid-1880s, Townsville saw a lot of new buildings go up. This was because the town was growing fast. Also, many buildings on Flinders Street had been destroyed by fires in the early 1880s.

After the fires, the area was declared a "first class area." This meant new buildings had to be made from strong materials like stone, brick, or metal. Timber buildings from earlier times were replaced with solid masonry ones. This encouraged even more new, strong buildings to be built.

Designing the New Pharmacy

In 1887, Joseph Atkinson and Francis Powell got a loan to build their new pharmacy. Willoughby Powell, Frank's brother, designed it. The new building had a large shop at the front. Behind it were two smaller rooms. One of these rooms was used by Frank Powell, who was a dentist.

The top floor was a warehouse for storage. It had an outside staircase and a small lift to move goods up. The ground floor first had an entrance in the middle with windows on each side. In the 1890s, a side door and an inside staircase were added. You can still see the curved shapes of the original windows today.

About the Architect, Willoughby Powell

Willoughby Powell was an architect who trained in England. He moved to Australia in 1872 with his brother. He worked for other architects before starting his own practice. He designed churches, public buildings, and large houses. The Atkinson & Powell building is his only known work in North Queensland. It is also one of the few shops he designed. A drawing of the finished building was even shown in the Townsville Herald newspaper in 1887.

Soon after the Atkinson & Powell building was finished, the Queens Building was built next to it. It was designed by a famous Townsville firm, Tunbridge and Tunbridge. Their design matched the Atkinson & Powell building well, sharing some similar features.

What Happened to the Building Later?

Over the years, the building was used by many different businesses. It was leased to dentists, chemists, and watchmakers. In 1920, it had offices for a shipping company, the Townsville Chamber of Commerce, and a restaurant.

From 1922 to 1932, the Vacuum Oil Co. rented the ground floor. Later, a newsagent is thought to have used the ground floor. The top floor was the main office for the Townsville Book Club, which was a private library. In 1965, the building was changed to become the Stage Door Theatre. In 1979, the theatre moved, and the Performing Arts Department of the Townsville College of TAFE used the building.

What Does the Building Look Like?

The former Atkinson & Powell Building is on Townsville's main shopping street. It's a two-story brick building. Its style is very similar to the building next to it, though the decorations are different.

The front of the building, facing the street, is covered in a smooth finish. It has classic-style decorations. The top floor has four windows with rounded tops. These windows have noticeable voussoirs (wedge-shaped stones or bricks that form an arch). Pilasters (flat, column-like shapes) separate the windows.

Above the windows is an entablature (a fancy horizontal band). Above that is a balustraded parapet (a low wall with a railing). It has a triangular pediment (a triangular shape often found above doors or windows). This hides a hipped roof covered with corrugated iron.

A curved corrugated iron awning (a roof-like cover) shades the shopfront below. It is held up by cast iron columns connected by a cast iron frieze (a decorative band). The middle and eastern parts of the original wooden shopfront windows are still there. There is a separate entrance to the upper level through a wooden door on the western side.

Why is This Building Important?

The former Atkinson & Powell Building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. This means it's recognized as an important part of Queensland's history for several reasons:

• It shows how Queensland's history unfolded.

The style and quality of the Atkinson & Powell Building show how wealthy Townsville was in the 1880s. It also shows how North Queensland grew by setting up important ports as business and government centers.

• It's a great example of its type.

The building is a good example of a large office building from the 1800s in North Queensland.

• It has special beauty.

It's on Townsville's main business street. Its design, shape, and materials make it a very important part of the city's look.

• It's connected to important people or groups.

The building is linked to the work of architect Willoughby Powell. It is believed to be the only building he designed in North Queensland.