Chelmer Police College facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chelmer Police College |
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Chelmer Police College, 2014
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| Location | 17 Laurel Avenue, Chelmer, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900–1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1900–1970 |
| Built for | Thomas Beevor Steele |
| Official name: Chelmer Police College (former), 10 WRAAC Barracks, The Lady Wilson Red Cross Convalescent Home, Waterton | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape, built) |
| Designated | 1 October 2003 |
| Reference no. | 602340 |
| Significant period | 1900s, 1940s (historical) 1900s, 1940s (fabric) |
| Significant components | garden/grounds, trees/plantings, dining room, classroom/classroom block/teaching area, dormitory, kitchen/kitchen house |
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The Chelmer Police College was once a special building in Chelmer, Brisbane, Australia. It has a long history, changing its purpose many times since it was built around 1900.
This building was first a large family home. Later, it became a place for soldiers to recover. It also served as a barracks for women in the army. Finally, it became a training college for police officers. It is now listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its important history.
Contents
A Building with Many Lives
The building that became the Chelmer Police College was built around 1900. It started as a private home called Waterton.
The Steele Family Home
The first owner was Thomas Beevor Steele. He was an insurance agent in Brisbane. He bought the land in March 1900. The property was quite large, stretching all the way to the Brisbane River.
The house was likely finished by 1901. It was a big, fancy home for a middle-class family. Its design shows it was built in the early 1900s.
Home of an Engineer
In 1913, the property was bought by Alison Eavis Harding Frew. He was a very important civil engineer in Queensland. He designed about 80 bridges across the state.
One of his most famous projects was the William Jolly Bridge in Brisbane. He also worked on the Hornibrook Bridge. He lived in this house with his family for about 27 years.
A Hospital for Soldiers
In 1940, the house was sold to the Australian Red Cross Society. This was during World War II. The Red Cross turned the house into a special hospital. It was called the Lady Wilson Red Cross Convalescent Home.
- Convalescent home: A place where people go to recover after an illness or injury.
This home helped Australian soldiers, sailors, and airmen get better. They were returning from the war. The Red Cross added new parts to the house. These included staff quarters and a large dormitory building.
Army Barracks for Women
In the early 1950s, the hospital closed. The Australian Army then leased the property. From 1953 to 1969, it was used as barracks for the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC).
- WRAAC: A special group for women in the Australian Army. It was formed in 1951.
The WRAAC helped fill important roles in the army. This was especially true during the Korean War. The WRAAC was disbanded in 1984. This was because women started to join the regular army.
A Police Training College
In 1969, the Red Cross sold the property. The Queensland Police Department bought it. In January 1970, it opened as the Queensland Police College.
The college offered many different training courses. It helped police officers learn new skills. This building served as the Police College until 2012.
What the Building Looks Like
The Chelmer Police College building is easy to spot on Laurel Avenue. It looks like a large, old-fashioned house. It has a big, pointy roof section called a gable. It also has wide, covered porches called verandahs.
The house is set back from the street. It has a nice garden in front. There are also big fig trees along the street. These trees make the entrance look grand.
Inside the Old House
The front part of the house has formal rooms. These were probably for guests or special occasions. There's a bay window that sticks out. The verandahs wrap around these rooms.
The main entrance leads to a hallway. This hall connects to other rooms. One room has a fireplace with two sides. You can see its chimney from the front.
Later, a dining room and kitchen were added. These were big enough for many people. There was also a wing with toilets and showers. This might have been the original kitchen area.
Later Additions
A covered walkway connects the main house to a dormitory building. This building is at the back of the property. It has many small bedrooms and shared bathrooms. It is built high off the ground. The space underneath was used for workshops or storage.
Another part was added to the north side of the old house around 1941. This part has two floors. The top floor has a lecture room and offices. The bottom floor has more rooms. These additions were built to fit in with the original house.
Special Details
The old house has good quality woodwork inside. This matches the style from the early 1900s. The walls and ceilings are made of painted wooden boards. Some rooms have fancy ceiling decorations or special fireplaces.
The newer parts of the building are simpler. They were built for practical use. They have wooden walls and smooth ceilings.
The house and its garden look very nice together. The old house has special details. These include the gable and decorative verandah posts. Even with many changes over the years, the building still shows its different historical uses.
Why It's Important
The former Chelmer Police College is a special place. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it is protected because of its history and beauty.
- It shows how Queensland's history has changed. It started as a fancy home. Then it became a hospital during World War II. After that, it was an army barracks. Finally, it became a police college. This shows how buildings can adapt over time.
- It shows what different types of buildings looked like. It's a great example of an early 1900s home. It also shows how a hospital was set up during the 1940s. The way new parts were added carefully is also important.
- It is beautiful. The old house, with its gables and verandahs, looks very good. The garden and old trees add to its charm. It makes Laurel Avenue look special.
- It is linked to important groups. The building has a special connection to the Australian Red Cross. It was also important to the Australian Army (WRAAC). And it played a key role for the Queensland Police Service.
