Croydon Police Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Croydon Police Station |
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Croydon Police Station
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| Location | Samwell Street, Croydon, Shire of Croydon, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1899 |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Police Reserve Complex (former), Former Police Station and Residence | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 23 July 1999 |
| Reference no. | 601153 |
| Significant period | 1890s (historical) 1896-1900s (fabric) |
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The Croydon Police Station is a historic building in Croydon, Australia. It used to be a police station and a home for police officers. It was built in 1899 and is now recognized as an important heritage site. This means it's protected because of its historical value.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Station
Gold Rush and Early Days
Croydon became a busy place around 1885. This happened after people found gold in the area. At first, the gold ore was processed somewhere else. But by 1886, Croydon had its own processing facilities. This brought many gold seekers, called prospectors, to the town.
As more people arrived, the town grew quickly. Plans for the town included a special area for the police. The first police station was built in 1886. A courthouse, which also had offices for mining officials, was finished the next year. By 1889, a lock-up (a small jail) and stables for horses were added.
Growing and Changing
As Croydon continued to develop, the first police buildings were replaced. In 1896, a large wooden building was constructed. This building was used as police barracks, a place where police officers lived. Later, this building became the police station.
More jail cells were built in 1897. Then, in 1899, a house was completed for the main police officer, called the Officer-In-Charge.
The Gold Runs Out
By 1907, most of the gold in Croydon was gone. The town's growth slowed down a lot. However, the police service stayed in Croydon. The police complex was repaired and repainted in 1911.
More changes happened in 1937. The old police barracks building was too big for the few officers left. So, it was cut into sections. Only a small part of the original barracks was kept and used as the police station. The kitchen part of the barracks was moved. It became a place for police trackers to live. The rest of the building was sold for its timber.
Later Years and New Uses
In 1939, the porches of both the police station and the police residence were made "fly-proof." This meant adding wooden screens to keep flies out. The trackers' quarters also had their foundations fixed. The old lock-up from 1889 was still used, but its outer walls were replaced.
A police report from 1938 described the police residence. It had three bedrooms, a dining room, a sitting room, a kitchen, a pantry, and bathrooms. It also had a porch.
New police buildings were built behind the old ones in 1977. The old 19th-century buildings were no longer used by the police. However, they were not torn down. In 1982, the National Trust of Queensland was allowed to use these old buildings. More recently, the Croydon Shire Council has used the former police station as a library and a museum.
What the Buildings Look Like
The former Croydon Police Station is located at the corner of Samwell and Alldridge Streets. It's near other important public buildings in Croydon, like the Court House and the Shire Hall.
The site has several simple wooden buildings. These include the police residence, the police station, and the jail cells.
The Former Police Station
This building was first built as police barracks. After 1937, parts of it were removed, and the rest became the police station. It's a single-story wooden building. It stands on low stumps, lifting it slightly off the ground. The roof is sloped and covered with corrugated iron.
Porches, called verandahs, are on three sides of the building. The wooden posts supporting the porches have special cut edges. There's also a simple wooden railing. A small pointed roof section sticks out on the front. This highlights the main entrance.
The Police Residence
The police residence is also a single-story wooden building. It sits a little bit off the ground on low stumps. The main part of the house has four rooms in the middle. The kitchen and bathroom are at the back. The walls are made of a single layer of wood.
The roof is shaped like a pyramid and covered with corrugated iron. It extends over the porch that goes around all four sides of the main house. A metal vent sits on top of the roof. Simple wooden posts support the porch. There's also a simple wooden railing. You enter the house from the front using wooden steps. A smaller back section with a sloped roof connects to the porch on the north side.
The Cells
The jail cells are located behind the police station. They are made with a wooden frame and covered with corrugated iron. Like the other buildings, they are raised on low stumps. The small building has a sloped roof, also covered with corrugated iron. A porch runs along the south side of the building. You can get to it by climbing wooden steps.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The former Croydon Police Station was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on July 23, 1999. This means it's considered very important to Queensland's history and culture.
Here's why it's special:
- It shows how Queensland's history unfolded. The police station was built soon after gold was found in Croydon. It shows how important it was to have essential services like police when a new town quickly grew.
- It's a great example of an old police complex. The buildings together show what a police area looked like in the 1800s.
- It looks beautiful and adds to the town. The buildings are well-preserved wooden structures from the 1800s. They make the town look unique and historic.
