Crawford and Co Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crawford and Co Building |
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Former Crawford & Co Building, 2015
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| Location | 216 Mary Street, Gympie, Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1881–1885 |
| Architect | Hugo Durietz |
| Architectural style(s) | Eclectic |
| Official name: Crawford and Co. Building (former), Goldsworthy Building, Caston and Davidson Building, Sym and Jackson Building | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 15 July 2011 |
| Reference no. | 602780 |
| Significant components | office/s |
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The Crawford and Co Building is a special old building in Gympie, Queensland, Australia. It's located at 216 Mary Street. This building was designed by an architect named Hugo Durietz. It was built between 1881 and 1885.
This building is important because of its history. It's also known by other names like Goldsworthy Building. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 15 July 2011. This means it's protected for its historical value.
Contents
A Look Back: The Building's Story
The Crawford and Co Building is a two-story brick building with a basement. It was built in two main parts during the 1880s. The top floor was designed in 1885 by Hugo Durietz. It was built for James Crawford. He ran a business there with Ernest Rohda. They worked as mining agents and share brokers. This means they helped people buy and sell parts of mining companies.
Gympie's Gold Rush Days
Gympie became a town after gold was found there in 1867. This discovery was a huge deal for Queensland. It brought a lot of money to the young colony. Thousands of people rushed to the Gympie goldfield.
At first, people found gold easily near the surface. But soon, they had to dig deeper. By 1875, deep mining began. This needed a lot of money and big companies. In the 1880s, Gympie's mines started producing a lot of gold. This made the town very rich and busy.
Building a Stronger Town
As Gympie grew, its early wooden buildings were replaced. Stronger, more permanent buildings were built. This happened especially in the 1880s and 1890s. Many new banks and business offices appeared. Several fires also helped this change. Fires in 1877, 1881, and 1891 burned down older wooden buildings. This made way for new, stronger brick ones.
A big fire in August 1881 destroyed many buildings on Mary Street. This included the wooden building where the Crawford and Co Building now stands. After the fire, a one-story brick building was put up.
James Crawford's Grand Plan
In October 1885, James Crawford bought the property. He was a mining secretary. He hired architect Hugo Durietz to add to the building. Durietz designed the beautiful two-story front. It was built in a Victorian classical style.
In 1889, a newspaper reporter described the building. They called it "the most handsome building on the field." It had a stone front and fancy decorations. The building had carvings of famous Scottish writers, Burns and Scott. It also had Scottish thistles. On top, there were statues of the British lion. There were also models of the emu and kangaroo with shields. These shields showed Australia's coat of arms.
These decorations showed different cultures. The lions represented the British Empire. The thistles showed Scotland. The emu and kangaroo showed Australia's growing identity. The statues of Burns and Scott showed the owner's love for literature.
The Gold Industry and Business
Deep gold mining in Gympie made it a top gold producer in Queensland. Gold brought a lot of money to the colony. But deep mining was very expensive. Companies were formed to raise money by selling shares. This led to the creation of the Gympie Stock Exchange. This exchange focused only on trading mining shares.
This is why people like sharebrokers and mining secretaries were so important. Sharebrokers helped people buy and sell shares. Mining secretaries made sure mining companies followed the rules. They also kept records and communicated with shareholders.
James Crawford was a respected mining secretary and sharebroker. He was also involved in local government. However, James Crawford faced serious problems and left Gympie in 1889. The building then went to William Davies, who had lent money to Crawford. After this, other mining secretaries and stockbrokers used the building.
Changes Over Time
Around 1900, gold production in Queensland started to slow down. By 1906, Gympie's gold output was declining. This led to the closure of the Gympie Stock Exchange around 1922. Many sharebrokers and mining secretaries left.
After 1925, the building changed its purpose. It became home to optometrists (eye doctors). William John Hodson bought the building in 1924. Optometrists have used the building ever since.
Over the years, the building has had some changes. Additions were built at the back in the 1930s. The top floor was changed from offices to living spaces. Later, in the 1970s, the top floor became offices again. Repairs have also been made to keep the building strong and beautiful.
What the Building Looks Like
The former Crawford and Co Building is a two-story building. It sits on a narrow piece of land between Mary and Reef Streets. It's part of a group of old gold-mining buildings on Mary Street. The building has strong brick walls. Its roof is hidden behind tall walls. There's also a wooden addition at the back.
The Fancy Front
The front of the building is very decorative. It has a mix of styles from the Victorian era. It looks like Renaissance buildings. It has features like fancy pediments (triangle shapes above windows), decorative walls, and columns. The building looks strong and solid.
The bottom floor looks like it's made of large stone blocks. The entrance door and ground floor window are arched. They have carved heads of Burns and Scott above them. A decorative band runs across the building between the upper and lower windows. It has scrolls and flower designs.
The upper windows are rectangular. They have pediments supported by fancy brackets. You can also see Scotch thistle designs below each window. The top of the building has a deep, decorative edge. It's supported by scroll-shaped brackets. There are also short balusters (small posts) between rails.
On top of the building, you can see statues. There's a kangaroo on one side and an emu on the other. They hold shields with Australia's coat of arms. In the middle, there's a large pediment. It's decorated with a British lion, scrolls, and thistles.
Inside the Building
From Mary Street, you enter through two wooden doors. These lead into a small entry area. Then, another set of doors opens into a large foyer. A tall, arched window lets light into the foyer. The foyer has a wooden staircase that goes to the first floor. There are also doors to offices at the back.
The upper floors have plaster walls. The ceilings are made of wooden boards with fancy edges. The floors are covered with carpet. You can still see original ceiling decorations. The doors inside are tall and made of wood. They have glass panels above them that can pivot open. Many of the original wooden features, like skirting boards and window frames, are still there.
The main staircase is made of cedar wood. It has fancy turned balusters (spindles) and newel posts (main posts). The handrail follows the curve of the stairs.
The basement has an asphalt floor. You can see the original stone and brick foundations. Steel posts and a new beam have been added to support the floor above.
The wooden addition at the back was built in the 1930s. It has its own roof and stairs to the backyard. This part of the building is not considered as historically important as the main building.
Why This Building is Special
The former Crawford and Co Building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2011. This means it's recognized as an important part of Queensland's history and culture.
Showing Gympie's History
This building helps us understand Gympie's gold mining history. Gold mining was very important for Queensland for almost 60 years. As gold mining changed from easy surface gold to deep mining, Gympie grew. The building shows how the town became more permanent and wealthy.
Its location near other important gold-related buildings also shows Gympie's growth. It's part of the historic upper Mary Street area. For many years, this building housed mining secretaries and sharebrokers. These people were key to the gold industry. They helped raise money for the expensive deep mining operations.
A Unique Design
The building's front design is very unusual and special. It has unique decorations on its skyline. The emu and kangaroo statues, the central pediment with lions, and the detailed carvings are rare. The different decorations on each floor, like the carved faces on the arches, make it truly one-of-a-kind.
A Great Example of Old Offices
The Crawford and Co Building is a great example of Victorian-era business offices. The original 1880s part has a foyer, a beautiful cedar staircase, offices, and a basement. Inside, you can see fine details. These include plaster walls, decorative plaster ceilings, and beautiful original cedar wood. This wood is used for windows, doors, and other features.
Beautiful to Look At
The building is also important for its beauty. Its design, size, and shape fit well with other old buildings on Mary Street. The unique front of the building is surprising and interesting to see. It adds to the pleasant look of upper Mary Street, which reminds us of Gympie's gold mining past.
