Cook Shire Council Chambers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cook Shire Council Chambers |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Cook Shire Council Chambers, 1996
|
|
| Location | 121 Charlotte Street, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1876–1877 |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Cook Shire Council Chambers, Cooktown Post and Telegraph Office | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 8 April 1997 |
| Reference no. | 601535 |
| Significant period | 1876–1890s (historical) |
| Significant components | views to, office/s, council chamber/meeting room |
| Builders | Henry J Meldrum and John Sullivan |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Cook Shire Council Chambers is a special old building in Cooktown, Australia. It used to be the main office for the local government, like a town hall. Today, it's known as the Cooktown History Centre, where you can learn all about the area's past. This building was constructed a long time ago, between 1876 and 1877. It's an important part of Queensland's history.
Contents
Cooktown History Centre: What to See
The Cooktown History Centre is run by the Cooktown and District Historical Society. It's a great place to explore the history and culture of the region. You can see many old photographs and interesting displays.
- Exhibits: Learn about the old railway, early roads, and how people dealt with big storms like cyclones.
- Local Stories: Discover stories of the first families who settled here and the local Aboriginal people.
- Archives: The centre also keeps old records and documents about Cooktown's history.
Building History: From Post Office to Council
This building started its life as Cooktown's very first Post and Telegraph Office. It was built specifically for this purpose. Later, in 1893, it became the offices for the local council, and it stayed that way for over 100 years.
Cooktown's Gold Rush Beginnings
Cooktown was founded in October 1873. It quickly became a busy port for the important Palmer River goldfields. Imagine, almost overnight, the town grew huge!
- Fast Growth: Within six months, Cooktown had many restaurants, stores, butchers, bakers, and even 65 pubs!
- Population Boom: Thousands of people passed through Cooktown on their way to the goldfields. By 1876, Cooktown itself had nearly 2,200 people.
- Early Services: Newspapers started, and a school, customs house, court house, and churches were built. Cooktown officially became a town in April 1876.
The First Post and Telegraph Office
An unofficial post office opened in Cooktown in January 1874, becoming official later that year. A telegraph line, which allowed people to send messages over long distances, connected Cooktown to Maytown (about 240 kilometers away) in April 1876.
The government decided to build a proper Post and Telegraph Office. The construction contract was given to Henry J Meldrum in July 1876. Sadly, he disappeared later that year, and another builder, John Sullivan, finished the work in June 1877.
Designed by a Famous Architect
At that time, Queensland's post and telegraph offices were designed by the colonial architect, FDG Stanley. He designed many important buildings, including the Cooktown Powder Magazine and parts of the Cooktown Hospital.
The Cooktown Post and Telegraph Office was designed to have separate areas for the post office and telegraph services. It also had separate homes for the postmaster and telegraph master, all in one timber building. However, Cooktown grew so fast that the building soon became too small for all the mail and telegraph messages!
Cooktown's Boom and Building Changes
Cooktown continued to grow in the 1880s. A railway was built from Cooktown to Laura between 1884 and 1888, which helped the port develop even more. By the late 1880s, Cooktown was a major center for mining, pearling (collecting pearls), and other activities.
In 1887, a new, larger post and telegraph office was built next door. The original 1876–1877 building was then changed to be just residences for the postmaster and telegraph master. However, the area where the building stood was often flooded during the wet season and wasn't very healthy. So, the homes were left empty in 1892.
From Homes to Council Chambers
In December 1892, a fire destroyed the nearby Town Hall. The 1876–77 post and telegraph building was then used as a temporary office for the Cooktown Municipal Council. In March 1893, the Council took over the building permanently.
Over the years, the council's name changed a few times. In the 1970s, some changes were made inside the building, and some verandahs were enclosed. The building continued to be the main office for the Cook Shire Council until they moved to a new location.
Since 2016, this historic building has been used as the Cooktown History Centre, sharing Cooktown's amazing past with everyone.
Building Features
The Cook Shire Council Chambers building is on the west side of Charlotte Street, which is the main street in Cooktown. It sits on land that slopes down towards the Endeavour River. It looks great as part of the street and is near other important old buildings, like the 1887 Post and Telegraph Office.
- Structure: It's a single-story building made of timber.
- Original Look: Even though it's been changed a bit, you can still see its original T-shape with verandahs (covered porches) all around.
- Roof: It has a low, sloped roof that extends over the verandahs. A pointed roof section, called a gable, sticks out from the front verandah, highlighting the entrance.
- Windows and Doors: You can see old French doors and double-hung windows that open onto the front and side verandahs.
- Inside: The inside has been changed to fit its use as offices and now as a history center. Some walls were removed to create bigger spaces, but you can still get a sense of the original layout.
Why This Building is Special
The Cook Shire Council Chambers was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1997 because it's very important to Queensland's history and culture.
- Showing History: It helps us understand how Cooktown grew as a port for the goldfields. It shows how the government supported the town's early development in the 1870s.
- Rare and Unique: This building is one of the oldest in Cooktown and one of the few early government buildings that still exist. This makes it very special and rare.
- Beautiful Design: It adds to the beauty of Charlotte Street and fits in well with other important buildings nearby.
- Council Connection: The building has a strong link to the work of the Cooktown Municipal Council and the Cook Shire Council for over a century.
