Dittmer's Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dittmer's Store |
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Dittmer's Store, 1992
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| Location | 92-94 Churchill Street, Childers, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | circa 1902 |
| Official name: Dittmer's Store/Isis Town and Country, Butler & Ker, James Butler | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600630 |
| Significant period | 1900s (fabric) c. 1902-ongoing (historical use as commercial buildings) |
| Significant components | toilet block/earth closet/water closet |
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Dittmer's Store is a special old shop found at 92-94 Churchill Street in Childers, Queensland, Australia. It was built around 1902. This building is also known by other names like Isis Town and Country, Butler & Ker, and James Butler. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992, which means it's a protected historical site.
Contents
A Look Back: The Store's History
Dittmer's Store was built around 1902. It was put up for a chemist named Thomas Gaydon and a stationer (someone who sells paper and office supplies) and tobacconist named William Hood. This happened after a big fire destroyed many shops on the main street of Childers.
Childers: A Growing Town
The town of Childers started to grow because of a railway line that opened in 1887. This railway helped move timber from the nearby Isis Scrub. The main street of Childers was divided into smaller plots of land in the 1890s.
In 1894, two people, Frederick John Charlton and Henry Jardine Gray, sold some land to a tinsmith named James Slater. Then, in 1899, the property was sold to Gaydon and Hood.
Fires and New Beginnings
In March 1902, a fire destroyed the old timber shop that was there. Soon after, the southern side of the street was re-measured, making the blocks a bit crooked. The new brick shop was built. William Hood used one part of it, and the partners built Dittmer's Store next door.
After another fire in the 1920s, the shop became a men's clothing store, run by LR Stevens and Benjamin Foley. Later, it was an electrician's shop, then a toy shop, and even a sports store. In 1929, Thomas Gaydon's wife, Mary, bought the shop. It stayed in the Gaydon family until 1970 when it was sold again.
The Dittmer Family Connection
Gustav Dittmer was a stationer who lived in Childers from the 1920s to the 1940s. His son, Felix Dittmer, became a well-known politician. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Mount Gravatt and later an Australian Senator.
What Does Dittmer's Store Look Like?
Dittmer's Store faces Churchill Street, which is the main street in Childers. It also has back access from Macrossan Street. It's a single-story building made of brick. It has a special curved roof over the front, made of corrugated iron, which acts as an awning to protect from the sun and rain.
The Front of the Store
The front of the building has a smooth, decorated surface. Above it, there's a fancy top part called a parapet with a heavy edge and a decorative railing. It also has a rounded, broken arch shape supporting a single decorative pot, called an urn.
The shop's entrance is set back from the street. On either side of the entrance, there are display windows. Above these windows, there's a ceiling made of pressed metal and fixed windows made of frosted glass.
The Back and Inside
The back of the building is made of plain brick with strong support pillars and windows with bars. There's a separate brick toilet building next to the back entrance. The area behind the store is grassy.
Inside, the building has a ceiling made of horizontal wooden boards. This ceiling slopes up from all four sides to a central skylight, which lets in natural light. The walls are smooth, and there are some dividing walls at the back. The floor is made of concrete.
Why is Dittmer's Store Important?
Dittmer's Store was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's considered a very important historical place for a few reasons:
Showing Queensland's History
The building, built around 1902, helps us understand how Queensland's history unfolded. It shows how Childers grew into a successful town in the early 1900s, known for its timber and sugar industries.
A Great Example of Old Shops
It's a good example of what a country town's commercial building looked like in the early 1900s. It's still very much like it was back then. It also fits in well with other old shops nearby, forming a group of buildings from the same time period.
Beautiful and Important to the Community
The store has many beautiful features that the Childers community values. This includes its inside design, the skylight that brings in light, and its decorated front. It looks good with the shop next door and adds a lot to the overall look of Churchill Street and the town of Childers.
