Cardwell Bush Telegraph facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cardwell Bush Telegraph |
|
|---|---|
Cardwell Bush Telegraph, 2003
|
|
| Location | 53 Victoria Street, Cardwell, Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architect | Colonial Architect's Office |
| Official name: Cardwell Post Office – Residence (former), Post Office, Post and Telegraph Office, Telegraph Office | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600392 |
| Significant period | 1870s (fabric) 1870s–1980s (historical, social) |
| Significant components | fence/wall – perimeter, kitchen/kitchen house, toilet block/earth closet/water closet, trees/plantings, post & telegraph office, residential accommodation – post master's house/quarters, counter, tank stand |
| Builders | George McCallum |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Cardwell Bush Telegraph is a special old building in Cardwell, Queensland. It used to be a post office and a telegraph office. Today, it's a heritage centre where you can learn about the past.
This building is located at 53 Victoria Street. It was designed by the Colonial Architect's Office and built in 1870 by George McCallum. This makes it one of the oldest buildings in North Queensland.
The building served as a post office until 1982. After that, it was carefully restored and reopened as the "Cardwell Bush Telegraph" heritage centre in 2003. This area also includes the old court house and jail. It's a great place for visitors to explore Cardwell's history. The building is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register since 1992.
It sits at the corner of the Bruce Highway and Balliol Street. Right next door is another historic building, the Cardwell Divisional Board Hall.
Contents
A Look Back: Cardwell's Early Days
This timber building was put up in 1870 as the Telegraph Office for Cardwell. It was designed by the Colonial Works office. George McCallum from Brisbane built it.
Records show the building was actually made in Brisbane first. Then, it was shipped to Cardwell and put together on its current spot. This was one of the first times a post office building was built this way. It helped create important government buildings in faraway places.
Why Cardwell Was Important
Cardwell was settled in 1864. It was the first port north of Bowen on the Queensland coast. People hoped it would become a major town. It had a deep, safe harbour.
The government strongly supported Cardwell's growth. Many important buildings were set up there. These included a police station, court house, and a telegraph station. A Post Office opened in Cardwell in 1864. The first Post Master had many jobs, like customs officer and harbour master.
The Telegraph Line Arrives
The telegraph office was built as the telegraph service grew in Queensland. Connecting a telegraph line from Bowen to the Gulf of Carpentaria was important. It would help settlers and might connect to an overseas cable from Java.
The telegraph line reached Cardwell in December 1869. The telegraph office opened in 1870. Soon after, it became a combined post and telegraph office. Many Post Masters were also part of the Electric Telegraph Department.
The building's design, with four main rooms and a separate kitchen, was common for telegraph offices back then. The Cardwell office was one of the first of about 30 similar buildings.
A Change of Plans
Lines were built from Cardwell to Gilberton and then to the Gulf of Carpentaria. However, in 1872, the overseas cable connected to Darwin instead. So, the main reason for the Cardwell Telegraph Office changed. Still, the telegraph line from Cardwell was very useful for settlers in the Gulf region.
Local Government and Changes
In 1879, the Hinchinbrook Division was created for local government. Later, in 1884, the new Cardwell Division was formed.
In 1892, the Cardwell Divisional Board built the Cardwell Divisional Board Hall next door. Cardwell was seen as the main town in the division. In 1893, the post and telegraph office officially became a post office.
Despite early hopes, Cardwell never became a huge port. Mountains made it hard to get from the harbour to inland areas. Townsville grew much faster and became the main hub for travel inland.
Building Upgrades Over Time
The building needed changes to handle the tropical weather. The original timber roof shingles rotted. By 1890, they were covered with iron. In 1904, the shingles were removed and an iron roof was fully installed.
The building also had termite problems. In 1897, some floorboards were replaced. The building was lifted onto higher stumps with special "ant caps" to stop termites. An old chimney and fireplace were removed.
Over time, the verandahs were enclosed to add a bedroom, bathroom, and extend the office space. The original separate kitchen was replaced by a larger one by 1896. A covered walkway connected the kitchen to the main building by 1904.
After Federation of Australia in 1901, all Australian post and telegraph services joined together. This became the Postmaster-General's Department, now known as Australia Post.
The building was also a home for the Postmaster. Often, the Postmaster's wife would run the office. Her husband, the Linesman-in-Charge, would be out maintaining the telegraph line.
From Post Office to Heritage Centre
The post office became an unofficial post office in 1966. The Australian Government sold it in 1967. Mr. Bill Wilson, a former Cardwell Post Master, bought it. It continued as an unofficial post office until around 1983. A new post office then opened in Cardwell. The old building was used as a home before becoming a heritage centre in 2003.
In 2001, the Cardwell Shire Council received money to restore the old telegraph office, court house, and lock-up. This project created the heritage centre. The Cardwell-Normanton telegraph line was very important for people in this isolated region. It helped them connect with the world and encouraged development.
Exploring the Heritage Centre
Today, the Telegraph Office is the only original building still standing in its place. The first courthouse was destroyed by a cyclone. Its replacement, built in the 1890s, and a newer jail from 1907, have been moved. They are now behind the Cardwell Divisional Board Hall. Sadly, this hall was badly damaged by Tropical Cyclone Yasi in 2011. It held the council's museum, which also lost displays. But the hall was rebuilt to look like its original timber design.
This historic area shows how government worked in a large, less populated area long ago. It also highlights the old technology used.
The Telegraph Office building itself is full of history. Old plans and documents show how it was built and changed. For example, it originally had a shingled roof and low stumps. But because of cyclones, heavy rain, and termites, the roof was replaced with iron. The building was also lifted onto higher stumps with ant caps.
Visitors can see the original postal room with its old telephone exchange. There's also an 1870s counter and old weather station tools. You can even send a message using Morse code! An interactive display explains Cardwell's role in the telegraph line race. In the courthouse, you can see how local justice worked. The lock-up next door reminds us of the early days in the north.
Across Balliol Street, the new Cardwell Library opened in 2007–2008. You can find more local history there. Next to the library, there's a large outdoor display. It shows old tools and items used in the area. These include cross-cut saws, a hand plough, and railway building tools. The old Cardwell School of Arts, the town's first library, has also been restored. It now provides a space for local artists to show and sell their work.
What the Building Looks Like
The old Cardwell Post Office is on the corner of Victoria Street and Balliol Street. It's part of a group of government buildings. These include the old Shire Hall, Police Station, and Cardwell State School.
It's a single-story timber building. It has four rooms with a hallway in the middle. Verandahs surround all four sides. A kitchen house is at the back, connected by a covered walkway. The roof is made of corrugated iron and has a hipped shape.
Some verandahs have been enclosed with different materials. The kitchen house is made of timber boards. It has sash windows and a hipped iron roof.
Inside, the walls are timber. The ceilings are boarded. Doors are timber panels. The front and back doors have glass fanlights above them.
The room at the northern end was the post office. It still has some old timber shelves and drawers. This room has a counter that opens to the enclosed verandah.
Outside, there's a coconut palm at one corner. Another palm is to the west. A mango tree is at the south of the site. There's a timber fence along both streets. A timber toilet and a tank stand are near the kitchen house.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The former Cardwell Post Office is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's very important for several reasons:
Showing Queensland's History
It helps us understand how Queensland developed. Especially how Cardwell started as a port. It also shows how telegraph communication grew across the state.
A Rare Piece of History
This building is special because it's one of the oldest and few remaining telegraph/post office buildings from 1869–1885. It's also one of the few prefabricated telegraph/post office buildings. It's one of the oldest timber buildings in North Queensland.
A Great Example of Design
The building's design, with its four main rooms and separate kitchen, shows a common telegraph/post office style from 1869–1885. It's a good example of government buildings from the 1860s-1870s.
Beautiful and Important to the Town
People value how the building and its grounds look. Its location, size, shape, and plants add to the beauty of Victoria Street and Cardwell. The building is still very complete, especially its layout and inside rooms.
Connected to the Community
It was a Post Office from 1870 until 1983. Because of this long history, it has a strong connection with the Cardwell community.
See also
