Ayr Court House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ayr Court House |
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Ayr Courthouse, 2009
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| Location | 163 Queen Street, Ayr, Shire of Burdekin, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1935 - 1941 |
| Architect | Douglas Francis Woodcraft Roberts |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Ayr Court House | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
| Designated | 13 January 1995 |
| Reference no. | 601126 |
| Significant period | 1930s (historical) 1930s (fabric) 1935 ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | garden/grounds, court house, roof/ridge ventilator/s / fleche/s |
| Builders | day labour |
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The Ayr Court House is a historic building in Ayr, Australia. It's located at 163 Queen Street. This important building was designed by Douglas Francis Woodcraft Roberts. It was built between 1935 and 1941. The court house is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's a special place that helps us understand Queensland's past.
Contents
A Look Back at Ayr's Courthouses
The Ayr Court House you see today was built in 1935. It stands next to an older courthouse from 1897. This makes the current building the third courthouse in Ayr's history.
Early Days in the Burdekin Region
People first settled in the Burdekin River area in the 1860s. The town of Ayr was planned in 1882. Soon after, in 1883, the first courthouse was built. This building was small. It also served as a police station and a jail. It was located on a block near Queen Street. Ayr grew quickly because many sugar farms were starting up nearby.
Growing Needs and New Buildings
By 1896, the first courthouse was too small. A new courthouse was needed for all the legal work. Construction on a second courthouse began in 1897. The old building then became just a police station.
In 1903, Cyclone Leonta hit Ayr hard. Most of the town was destroyed. The courthouse roof was also damaged. But the town was rebuilt after the storm.
Sugar Industry Brings Growth
Ayr and the surrounding area grew a lot in the 1920s and 1930s. This was mainly because the sugar industry was expanding. A railway line opened in 1901. It connected Ayr to Townsville. This made it easier to transport sugar. The railway became a government line in 1913.
Farmers in Ayr also needed more water for their sugar cane. An irrigation plan was approved in 1916. A big irrigation plant opened in 1922. While many places faced the Great Depression, sugar towns like Ayr kept growing steadily.
A Bigger, Better Courthouse
By the early 1930s, even the second courthouse was too small. More space was needed for the growing town. In 1934, local groups asked for a brand new building. They pointed out that Ayr was very busy. The government agreed to build a new courthouse in December 1934.
The new building would have:
- A main court room
- Rooms for witnesses
- Offices for police and clerks
- A public waiting area
Architect DFW Roberts designed the new courthouse in 1935. He worked for the Queensland Works Department. The design was based on older courthouse styles. It was one of the first brick courthouses of its kind. The plans even allowed for future additions. The building had three separate entrances. This helped keep different people apart. One entrance was for the public. Others were for witnesses or those attending court. People thought the new building would be a great addition to Ayr.
Building During the Depression
During the 1930s Depression, the Queensland government started a work program. This program aimed to create jobs. It hired architects, foremen, and workers. They used local materials to build government buildings. These included courthouses, offices, and schools. The Ayr Court House is a great example of these buildings.
The court house was finished and opened in March 1936. The old courthouse then became the police station. Other government departments also used offices in the new building. More offices were added in 1941. The grounds around the court house were landscaped in the early 1950s.
What the Ayr Court House Looks Like
The Ayr Court House is a single-story building. It is made of red brick. The roof has a pointed shape called a gable. It is covered with corrugated steel. A decorative spire, called a fleche, sits on top. The wide verandahs go around four sides of the building. They have wooden railings and brick posts. The main entrance has a fancy decorative wall above it, called a parapet.
The Ayr Court House is part of a group of important buildings in Ayr. These buildings are all on Queen Street. The police station, town hall, library, and post office are also nearby. Together, they form the town's main civic area.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Ayr Court House was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1995. This means it's important for several reasons.
Showing Queensland's History
This building was completed in 1936. It was Ayr's third courthouse. It shows how Ayr grew into an important town. It also shows the good times the sugar industry brought to the area. The court house was built during the 1930s Depression. It was part of a government plan to create jobs. It's a great example of the buildings made during this time.
A Good Example of Its Kind
The Ayr Court House is a strong brick building. It shows the high quality of government buildings from the early to mid-1900s. These buildings were designed by the Department of Public Works.
Beautiful and Important to the Town
The way the building is shaped, its size, and the materials used make it special. It adds to the look of Queen Street and the whole town of Ayr.
