Cook Shire Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cook Shire Hall |
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Cook Shire Hall, 2010
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| Location | Helen Street, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1907 |
| Official name: Cook Shire Hall, Cooktown Presbyterian Church, Oddfellows Hall, Standen's Hall | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 8 April 1997 |
| Reference no. | 601704 |
| Significant period | 1900s-1930s, 1950s (historical) 1907-ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | council chamber/meeting room, office/s, hall |
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The Cook Shire Hall is a historic building located on Helen Street in Cooktown, Australia. It was built in 1907 and has been used for many different things over the years. It is also known as the Cooktown Presbyterian Church, Oddfellows Hall, and Standen's Hall. This important building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 8 April 1997.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Hall
This building was first put up in 1907. It was built for a group called the Loyal Captain Cook Lodge of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows Friendly Society. This society was a friendly group that helped its members. The hall was their meeting place until at least 1936. It was also rented out for public events and fun during this time.
From Church to Lodge Hall
The hall replaced an older building that stood on the same spot. The first building was constructed in 1890 and was the Cooktown Presbyterian Church. Sadly, a big cyclone in January 1907 destroyed much of Cooktown, including the church.
The land for the church was bought in 1889. It was a good spot on Helen Street, looking over the Endeavour River. The church was finished in 1890. However, Cooktown's importance as a supply port for gold miners was decreasing. Fewer people attended the church, and it was soon used for other services and community groups.
In 1906, the Oddfellows group bought the old church building. They had been meeting in the Cooktown Town Hall since 1884. Less than a year after they bought it, the 1907 cyclone hit and destroyed the building.
Rebuilding and New Owners
The Oddfellows quickly rebuilt the hall in its current form. It seems they used some of the old timbers from the first building. The new hall looked very similar to the original one.
The Loyal Captain Cook Lodge continued to meet in the hall until at least 1936. Then, the property was sold to Charles Victor Standen. He was an accountant and also the secretary of the Oddfellows Lodge. The Standen family had a hardware and timber business in Cooktown. It's thought that the Lodge might have kept meeting there even after the sale.
After Charles Standen passed away, his wife made the hall available for public hire. People called it Standen's Hall. In 1951, the Cook Shire Council bought the building. Since then, it has been Cooktown's only Shire Hall. It's still used for public events, including showing movies, making it Cooktown's only cinema.
What the Hall Looks Like
The Cook Shire Hall is located on Helen Street, on a hill overlooking Cooktown. It's a simple rectangular building made entirely of timber. It stands on timber stumps, with the western end about 1 metre (3 feet) above the ground.
Outside Features
The hall has verandahs on three sides. A medium-sloped roof, covered in corrugated iron, sits above the verandahs. The ends of the roof and the side walls above the verandah are covered with special timber boards called chamferboards.
The verandahs on the north and west sides have timber lattice work above a low timber fence. The east side verandah is covered with weatherboard. You can get onto the western verandah by timber steps in the middle and at the corners. A small gable roof above the central steps marks the main entrance to the hall.
Inside the Hall
The walls inside are made of timber with a special beaded pattern. On the outside, they have a rusticated (rough-looking) pattern. The timber is fixed to exposed frames that you can see on the verandahs.
There is a false ceiling installed inside the hall. This covers the original ceiling, which was also made of timber with a beaded pattern. The original ceiling was flat in the middle and followed the shape of the roof at its edges.
Why the Hall is Important
The Cook Shire Hall was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1997. This means it's a very important building because of its history and what it means to the community.
A Place for Community Events
The hall is important because it has been a place for public entertainment in Cooktown for a long time, since the early 1900s. It is the only public hall left in Cooktown. For almost 90 years, it has hosted most of Cooktown's public events, parties, and fun gatherings.
Special to the Community
Because of its long history, the hall is very special to the people of Cooktown. Many memorable local events, wedding celebrations, and general entertainment have happened here. It holds many memories for the community.
Connection to the Oddfellows
The hall is also important because of its strong connection to the Oddfellows Friendly Society. It was their property and meeting place for at least 30 years, showing their work in Cooktown's history.
