Cattle House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cattle House |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Cattle House, from the north-east, 1994
|
|
| Location | 180 Quay Street, Rockhampton, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900–1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1903–1904 |
| Architect | Addison & Corrie |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Cattle House, Union Bank of Australia | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600805 |
| Significant period | 1900s (fabric) 1904-1980 (historical use as bank) |
| Significant components | loggia/s, fireplace, gate - entrance, strong room, banking chamber, residential accommodation - manager's house/quarters |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Cattle House is a historic building in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. It used to be a bank! It was built between 1903 and 1904. The building was designed by architects Addison & Corrie. It is also known as the Union Bank of Australia and the Cattleman's Union building. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992 because of its important history.
Contents
History of Cattle House
Cattle House, located at 180 Quay Street, was built in 1903. It was a two-story brick building for the Union Bank of Australia. This was actually the second bank building on this spot. The first one was built in 1864. That made it one of the first big buildings on Quay Street.
Early Days of the Bank
The Union Bank of Australia started in Rockhampton in 1862. By 1863, a two-story brick building was almost finished. It had a banking area, a strongroom, and offices downstairs. Upstairs, there was a living area with a drawing room and four bedrooms. The bank also had a kitchen, servant's rooms, and stables. The bank wanted to keep costs low. They weren't sure if Rockhampton would become a big commercial city.
Rockhampton's Growth
The bank was in a great spot on Quay Street. It was near the wharves and other important businesses. In the 1860s, Rockhampton was a major port. It handled goods like wool and minerals from inland Queensland. Quay Street became a busy business area because of all the trade.
Rockhampton grew a lot in the 1880s. This was thanks to the discovery of gold at Mount Morgan. This new wealth led to many new buildings in the city. Most of the big buildings on Quay Street were built between 1882 and 1903.
A New Bank Building
In 1902, the Union Bank decided to build a new, better building. The old 1864 building was getting old. Even though times were tough due to a drought, the new building was finished in 1904.
The new bank was designed by Brisbane architects GHM Addison and Leslie Gillespie Corrie. They worked with local Rockhampton architects. Addison and Corrie were well-known for designing other important buildings in Queensland.
From Bank to Cattleman's Union
In 1951, the Union Bank of Australia joined with another bank. They formed the Australian and New Zealand Banking Corporation Ltd, or ANZ Bank. The building on Quay Street remained an ANZ Bank until 1980.
Then, the Cattleman's Union bought the building. They still own and use it today. This is why it's now called Cattle House.
What Cattle House Looks Like
Cattle House is a large, two-story building on Quay Street. It faces the Fitzroy River. The building has a classic architectural style. It features a special covered walkway called a loggia on the front. This loggia has two stories.
Outside Features
The building is shaped like an "L". The front has the two-story loggia. The roof is made of corrugated iron and is hidden behind a wall called a parapet.
The loggia has five sections. The sections at each end stick out a little. They have triangular tops called pediments. These end sections highlight the two main entrances. One entrance leads to the ground floor, which was the main banking area. The other entrance leads to the stairs for the first floor.
On the ground floor, the loggia has rounded archways. The middle three archways have a solid wall part at the bottom. The archways are separated by flat columns called pilasters.
The upper floor loggia also has rounded arches. These arches have decorative stone work. There are also fancy balustrades (decorative railings) in each opening. Above the arches, there is more detailed plasterwork.
Entrances
There are two main entrances from Quay Street. Each entrance has double wrought iron gates. The northern entrance has a double wooden door with glass panels and a rounded window above. The southern entrance, which leads to the stairs, also has a double wooden door with long, thin windows and a rounded window above.
Inside the Building
The inside of Cattle House has many beautiful old details. These include high-quality woodwork and plaster designs. The building was designed with the bank on the ground floor and a home for the bank manager on the first floor. You can still see this layout today.
When you enter the ground floor, you step into what was once the main banking area. It's now a large reception area for the Cattleman's Union. This room has a very fancy pressed metal ceiling. It's divided into three sections with decorative beams.
On one side of this room are three other rooms. Two were offices, including the manager's office. The third was the strong room. It has very thick concrete walls and a heavy iron door.
The main staircase is made of timber. It has decorative balusters and newel posts (the main posts at the top and bottom of the stairs). There's also a window with simple leadlight glass.
The upper floor has a central hallway. This hallway leads to the main rooms on this floor. The former drawing room, now a meeting room, is a large space. It has French doors that open onto the upper loggia. This room has a timber ceiling with a geometric pattern.
The building also has two grand chimney pieces. One is in the former manager's office, and the other is in the former drawing room. They are made of beautifully carved timber with shelves and a large mantelpiece.
Why Cattle House is Important
Cattle House is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register for several reasons.
Part of Queensland's History
Cattle House was built in 1903 for the Union Bank. It is part of the historic Quay Street area in Rockhampton. This area is known for its late 19th-century business buildings. Quay Street shows how important the Port of Rockhampton was. The port served a huge part of central Queensland from 1858. It helped make Rockhampton the main commercial city in the region. The strong, solid buildings on Quay Street show how wealthy Rockhampton became in the late 1800s. This wealth came from the gold found at Mount Morgan in 1882. Cattle House is an example of the later buildings on Quay Street. These were built before the port became less important around 1903.
Beautiful Design
Cattle House is also important because it's beautiful. It adds a lot to the look of Quay Street. Quay Street still feels like a 19th-century riverside area. Cattle House, along with nearby buildings, helps define the corner of Quay and Denham Streets.
Special to the Community
Cattle House is special to the people of Rockhampton. Its beauty and history contribute to Quay Street. For many, Quay Street is a symbol of Rockhampton itself.
