Cook Shire Council Chambers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cook Shire Council Chambers |
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Cook Shire Council Chambers, 1996
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| 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 |
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The Cook Shire Council Chambers is a historic building in Cooktown, Australia. It was built between 1876 and 1877 by Henry J Meldrum and John Sullivan. This building has had many uses over the years. It started as Cooktown's Post and Telegraph Office. Later, it became the offices for the local council. Today, it is known as the Cooktown History Centre. It is a very important building and is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.
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Cooktown History Centre
Today, the Cooktown History Centre is run by the Cooktown and District Historical Society. It is a great place to learn about the history and culture of the area. You can see old photographs and displays about the railway, early roads, and how people lived long ago. The centre also tells stories about pioneer families and the local Indigenous people. It even keeps old records about the town's past.
A Building with Many Lives
This building, now the Cooktown History Centre, was first built in 1876-1877. It was the first building in Cooktown made specifically to be a Post and Telegraph Office. This means it handled mail and sent messages using telegraphs.
Cooktown itself was founded in October 1873. It quickly grew into a busy port town. This happened because it was the main entry point for the important Palmer River goldfields. Gold miners and supplies came through Cooktown.
Cooktown's Early Boom
Cooktown grew very fast. Within six months, it had many shops, restaurants, and hotels. Thousands of people passed through the town on their way to the goldfields. By 1875, Cooktown had schools, a courthouse, and churches. It became an official town in April 1876.
The first post office in Cooktown opened in 1874. A telegraph line connecting Cooktown to Maytown, a goldfields town about 240 kilometres away, opened in 1876. This made communication much faster.
Building the Post Office
Plans for the Post and Telegraph Office began in 1875. The contract to build it was given to Henry J Meldrum in July 1876. He offered to build it for nearly 2,000 pounds. Sadly, Meldrum disappeared later that year and was thought to have drowned. Another builder, John Sullivan, finished the work in June 1877.
The building was designed by FDG Stanley, who was the government architect at the time. He designed many important buildings in Queensland. The Cooktown Post and Telegraph Office was designed to have separate areas for the post office and the telegraph office. It also had separate homes for the postmaster and the telegraph master.
Changes and New Uses
Even though it was a new building, it soon became too small. Cooktown kept growing, especially in the 1880s. A railway was built from Cooktown to Laura between 1884 and 1888. This helped the port grow even more. Cooktown became important for mining, pearling, and farming.
In 1887, a new, bigger post and telegraph office was built next door. The old building was then changed. Its office areas became part of the homes for the postmaster and telegraph master. But the building had problems. It was built on land that often flooded during the wet season. Because of this, it was thought to be unhealthy, and the homes were left empty in 1892.
Becoming the Council Chambers
In late 1892, a fire destroyed Cooktown's Town Hall. So, the old post and telegraph building became the temporary home for the Cooktown Municipal Council. In March 1893, the Council took over the building permanently.
The Cooktown Municipal Council later became the Cooktown Town Council in 1903. In 1932, it became part of the larger Cook Shire Council. The building continued to be used as the council offices for over a century. Some changes were made in the 1970s, like enclosing the verandahs.
The Cook Shire Council used the building until they moved to new offices. Since 2016, the building has been used as the Cooktown History Centre.
What the Building Looks Like
The Cook Shire Council Chambers building is on the west side of Charlotte Street, which is the main street in Cooktown. It is a single-storey building made of timber. It has a low, sloped roof that covers the verandahs (porches).
The front of the building has a pointed roof section that highlights the entrance. You can still see some of the old French doors and windows that open onto the verandahs. While some parts of the building have been changed, you can still see its original shape. It stands next to the 1887 Post and Telegraph Office, and together they add to the historic look of the street.
Why This Place is Important
The Cook Shire Council Chambers is important for several reasons:
- It shows how Queensland's history unfolded: This building was one of the first important government buildings in Cooktown. It shows how the government helped Cooktown grow as a key port for the goldfields in the 1870s.
- It is a rare piece of history: It is one of the oldest buildings in Cooktown and one of the few early government buildings that still exist. This makes it very special and rare.
- It looks great: The building adds to the beauty and history of Charlotte Street. It forms a nice group with other old buildings nearby.
- It has a special connection to local government: For over a hundred years, this building was the home of the Cooktown Municipal Council and later the Cook Shire Council. It played a big part in the local government's work.
