Bartlam's Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bartlam's Store |
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Bartlam's Store (now Zara Clark Museum), 1986
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| Location | Mosman Street, Charters Towers City, Charters Towers, Charters Towers Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | c. 1891–1940s |
| Official name: Bartlam's Store (former), Burns Philp & Company Limited, Wright Heaton & Company, Zara Clark Museum | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600409 |
| Significant period | 1890s, 1901, 1940s (fabric) c. 1891–1940s, 1940s–1976 (historical) |
| Significant components | loading bay/dock |
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Bartlam's Store is a special old building in Charters Towers, Australia. It used to be two shops but is now a museum called the Zara Clark Museum. This building was constructed between about 1891 and the 1940s.
It was once known as Burns Philp & Company Limited and Wright Heaton & Company. In 1978, the National Trust bought the building. They then opened the Zara Clark Museum inside. This historic site was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992.
A Glimpse into the Past
The former Bartlam's Store is made up of two brick buildings. They were joined together to make one larger space. These buildings were part of a busy shopping area in Charters Towers long ago.
The Gold Rush Town
Charters Towers became famous in late 1871 when gold was found there. It quickly grew into one of the richest gold mining areas in North Queensland. By 1877, it was officially a town. A railway was built, making it easy to send gold and goods to the port in Townsville.
Mining gold from deep underground needed lots of special equipment. Money for this came from investors in other places. Charters Towers became a busy town with many jobs. It had schools, churches, newspapers, and even a hospital. Fancy new buildings were built in the late 1880s and 1890s. In 1899, gold mining was at its peak, and about 26,500 people lived there.
Early Businesses and Owners
The land where these buildings stand was sold in 1882. One part was bought by William Jackson. Later, in 1898, it was sold to Wright Heaton and Company Limited. This company was big in carrying goods and selling farm products. They came to Charters Towers in 1882 when the railway opened. They built their store around 1901.
Another important company, Burns, Philp and Company Limited, built the building next door. James Burns started his business in Gympie in 1867, working with mining towns. He later moved to Townsville. In 1874, Robert Philp joined him. They formed Burns Philp and Company Limited in 1883. This company quickly became very important in North Queensland. They sold many different goods and were big in trade across the Pacific.
Building the Stores
In 1891, the property for Burns Philp was officially transferred to the company. A new building was constructed for them. It cost a lot of money, about £3500 back then. The building had offices and a store. It was a grand building with a fancy front, just like other important buildings in Charters Towers.
The End of the Gold Rush
Gold production started to slow down after 1899. By 1920, most of the mines had closed. Many people and businesses left Charters Towers. The Burns Philp store was sold in 1921 to Selina Vicks. Her husband, Thomas Vicks, ran a grocery store there. Burns Philp eventually moved out around 1940.
In 1944, Bartlam's Limited, a company that supplied goods to farms, bought the buildings. They changed the two buildings into one large store.
Becoming a Museum
Bartlam's Limited closed down in 1976. In 1978, the building was put up for sale. People were worried it might be torn down. To save it, the National Trust of Queensland bought the building. They used money left to them by Miss Zara Clark.
The "Zara Clark Museum" opened in the building. It started as a transport museum. Today, it holds a large collection of local history items. You can see horse-drawn vehicles, old farm machines, household items, mining tools, and old photos.
The Bartlam's Store building helps us remember what Mosman Street looked like. It was once a very busy street with many shops. Now, this building helps keep that history alive.
What the Building Looks Like
The former Bartlam's Store has two single-story buildings. They are made of brick and covered with a plaster-like material called stucco. They are similar in size and design.
Key Features
Each building has a decorative wall at the top, called a parapet. This hides the gable roof, which is covered with corrugated iron. A long awning stretches over the sidewalk along Mosman Street. It also goes around the corner onto Mary Street. This awning is held up by cast iron posts.
Inside, both buildings have a high storage area. At the back, there are doors for deliveries. These open into a yard with a loading platform.
Different Sections
The building on the corner of Mosman and Mary Streets was the former Wright Heaton office. It has an entrance on the corner and windows along both streets. This suggests it was designed for offices, not just a store.
The other building, which was for Burns Philp, has two parts. One part was a shop next to the corner building. The other part was an office, each with its own entrance. The office section still has its original walls and doors.
The outside of the building looks much like it did in the past. The front window of the shop has been updated. The entrance to the "shop" is now a glass door. Above the shop window, there are columns supporting the parapet. The bottom part of the shop front has a unique cast iron pattern.
Why It's a Heritage Site
Bartlam's Store is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it's important for several reasons.
A Link to Queensland's History
Charters Towers was a very rich goldfield. It played a big part in Queensland's economy and growth. Bartlam's Store housed companies that provided important goods and services. These companies helped the mining and farming industries grow. The fancy look of the buildings shows how important these companies were. It also shows how rich and confident Charters Towers was in the late 1800s.
A Great Example of Old Buildings
This building is a good example of a late Victorian commercial building. It combined offices and shops with practical loading areas. This shows how businesses operated back then.
Beautiful and Important to the Street
The building looks great on Mosman Street. It helps us imagine how big and important this shopping area was when Charters Towers was at its busiest.
Connected to Important People and Groups
The building is linked to Burns Philp and Company Limited, a very important trading company. It was a specially built branch in a key regional town. It's also connected to other firms like Wright Heaton and Bartlam's. These companies were vital to Queensland's development.
