Customs House, Maryborough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Customs House, Maryborough |
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Customs House, Maryborough, 2008
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| Location | Richmond Street, Maryborough, Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s–1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1899 |
| Architect | John Smith Murdoch |
| Official name: Customs House and Residence (former) | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 7 February 2005 |
| Reference no. | 600709 |
| Significant period | 1899 (fabric) 1890s–1990s (historical) |
| Significant components | residential accommodation – staff housing, garage, customs house |
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The Maryborough Customs House is a special old building in Maryborough, Queensland, Australia. It used to be where customs officers worked. These officers collected taxes on goods coming into or leaving the country. The building was designed by John Smith Murdoch and finished in 1899. Today, it's listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it's an important part of Queensland's history.
Contents
A Look Back: The Customs House Story
The Maryborough Customs House and its nearby home were built in 1899. They replaced an older customs house from the 1860s. The new buildings were designed by John Smith Murdoch, an architect from the Queensland Department of Public Works.
Maryborough's Early Days
Maryborough wasn't always in its current spot. The first settlement was north of the Mary River. Wharves were built there around 1847-1848. These wharves helped transport wool from sheep farms. In 1850, a surveyor named Hugh Roland Labatt suggested a new town site. This new site was further east, and that's where Maryborough grew from the 1850s.
Why Customs Were Important
In 1859, Queensland became a separate colony from New South Wales. Maryborough was then named a "Port of Entry." This meant it was an official place where goods could enter or leave the colony. A sub-collector was put in charge of customs here.
Collecting taxes on goods was a big way for the new Queensland Government to make money. So, customs services were very important and respected. Customs officers often started in simple buildings. But soon, the importance of their job meant they needed grander customs houses.
The First Customs House
The first sub-collector in Maryborough, Brinsley Sheridan, worked from a small office. In 1861, the government paid for a proper customs house. It was ready by March 1862. This first building was made of brick and faced the river. There was also a timber home behind it. In 1863, a Government Bond Store was built nearby. This store held goods that were waiting for customs checks.
Growing Pains and a New Building
Maryborough grew quickly in the 1860s and 1870s. This was partly because gold was found in Gympie. Maryborough became the main port for sending gold out. Railways also helped the town grow.
By the 1890s, the old customs house was falling apart. A big flood in 1893 made it even worse. So, the government decided to build a new one. Other new customs houses were being built around Australia at this time. These included large, impressive buildings in Brisbane, Rockhampton, and Townsville.
In January 1899, tenders were called for the new Maryborough Customs House. Local builders, Henry Neale and Son, won the job. The buildings cost about £5956. They were made of local brick with concrete foundations and special roof tiles. The Customs House had a large main room, offices, and a strong room. The residence was a two-story building with six bedrooms. It had wide verandahs with great river views. Unlike the old building, this new one faced Richmond Street. It looked out onto the Court House gardens.
The Architect: John Smith Murdoch
The design of the Maryborough Customs House is credited to John Smith Murdoch. He worked for the Queensland Public Works Department. Murdoch was a very talented architect. He designed many clever and beautiful buildings. His style often mixed traditional English designs with Australian ideas. His buildings often looked strong and official, showing a link to the British Crown. The Maryborough Customs House is a great example of his work. It combines a comfortable, artistic style with classic, official details.
Changes Over Time
In 1901, the new Australian Federal Government took over customs services across Australia. This meant the Maryborough Customs House became federal property. In 1995, the customs service left Maryborough. The buildings are still owned by the federal government. They have been used as offices for the Australian Electoral Commission and local politicians.
The buildings have stayed mostly the same since they were built. Some changes have been made inside to allow for new uses. In 2001, the customs house became a visitor centre. It is part of the Portside Centre heritage area.
What the Customs House Looks Like
The Customs House site has two main buildings: the old Customs House and the home next to it. They are in a very noticeable spot where Wharf and Richmond Streets meet. Other important historical buildings are nearby. These include the Maryborough Court House and the Customs House Hotel.
The old Customs House is at the north-western end of the site. It faces Richmond Street and the Court House. The residence is next to it, on the south-eastern side. It faces more inwards. There's also a small timber garage on the site. Both buildings are made of red brick and concrete. They have similar rough stucco details. The Customs House looks more formal and public. The residence looks more like a home.
The Customs House Building
The Customs House is built in a balanced way. It has a rectangular shape with a special roof covered in terracotta tiles. A square section sticks up in the middle of the roof. This part covers the main "long room" inside. This central section has brick patterns and stucco panels. Two brick chimneys are on either side of this central part.
The front of the building faces Richmond Street. It has a central entrance that connects to the brick fence. This entrance has three round-arched windows. Above the middle window, you can see the Royal Arms carved in concrete. The words "H.M. CUSTOMS" are written in a fancy style. Steps lead to smaller porches on either side of the main entrance. Most of the outside walls are brick at the bottom. The top parts are covered in rough stucco with brick details.
The sides of the Customs House have two arched windows. The back has a central awning supported by large curved brackets. There are also several windows and doors at the back.
Inside, the Customs House has a large central room. This was once the "long room." It has arched openings leading to other areas. One area is the entrance hall. Other areas lead to offices. The floors are timber, the walls are plastered, and the ceilings are timber. Many ceilings have decorative timber panels with "VR" for Queen Victoria. You can still see several old fireplaces inside.
The Residence Building
The residence is a two-story building. It also uses red brick and rough stucco. It has a complex roof with many different sections. A two-story verandah runs along one side of the house. The lower part of the verandah has brick arches. The upper part has a timber railing.
The house has many different types of windows. Some are round, and some are tall and narrow with rounded tops. Many windows have pale, stained glass panels with geometric patterns.
The main entrance to the residence is through a porch in a corner. The porch roof is supported by small concrete columns. The porch floor has decorative tiles. This porch leads to a central entrance hall. From here, you can reach the stairs and other rooms. The entrance hall has timber panels on the lower walls. It also has fancy timber decorations on the ceiling.
A small seating area is next to the entrance hall. A similar arch leads to the timber staircase. The staircase area gets light from a round window and three arched windows higher up. The rooms upstairs have timber ceilings, plastered walls, and timber floors. Many rooms have decorative timber panels in the centre of the ceiling. Several beautiful fireplaces are still in the house.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Maryborough Customs House was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 7 February 2005. This means it's important because:
- It shows Queensland's history: The buildings show how much the Port of Maryborough grew in the 1800s. Their grand design also shows how important the customs service was back then.
- It's a great example of its kind: This site, with the customs house, residence, and bond store, shows what a regional customs area looked like in the late 1800s. The buildings are also good examples of the high-quality designs from the Public Works Department.
- It's beautiful and well-designed: The Customs House and Residence are very attractive buildings. They are well-designed public buildings in a key spot in Maryborough. Their unique style shows the work of architect John Smith Murdoch.
- It shows creative design: The buildings are great examples of how Australian architecture was influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement in the late 1800s.
- It's linked to an important person: The building is connected to the talented architect John Smith Murdoch. He designed many clever public buildings for the state government.
