FDA Carstens Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids FDA Carstens Memorial |
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FDA Carstens Memorial, 2015
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| Location | Macrossan Street, Port Douglas, Shire of Douglas, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1907 - 1908 |
| Official name: FDA Carstens Memorial | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 9 September 2003 |
| Reference no. | 601053 |
| Significant period | 1907- (social ,fabric) 1908 (historical) |
| Significant components | memorial - pillar/s, memorial - statue, memorial/monument, memorial - drinking fountain |
| Builders | Melrose & Fenwick (Townsville |
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The FDA Carstens Memorial is a special monument in Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia. It was built between 1907 and 1908 by a company called Melrose & Fenwick. This memorial is important because it honours a man named Friederich Detleip Andreas Carstens.
It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on September 9, 2003. This means it's a protected historical site.
Who Was FDA Carstens?
The memorial was built to remember Friederich Detleip Andreas Carstens. He was a well-known publican (someone who owned a hotel) in Port Douglas. He also served as the Chairman of the Douglas Divisional Board, which was like a local council.
His wife, Pauline Carstens, paid for the memorial. She wanted it to be a public drinking fountain. The company Melrose and Fenwick from Townsville created it. They were famous for making memorials and headstones in North Queensland.
Early Life and Moving to Queensland
FDA Carstens was born in Denmark on August 9, 1838. His family was wealthy, and he received a good education. He even studied at Heidelberg University in Germany.
When he was young, he had health problems. So, he decided to move to Queensland, Australia, for a better climate. In 1866, he started a business in Brisbane.
Later, he moved to Dalby with his first wife, Catherine. There, he built a hotel and ran a successful butchery. He also started his public career, becoming a member of the Dalby municipal council.
Helping Port Douglas Grow
Because of his health, Carstens moved to North Queensland. He bought a hotel in Herberton before settling in Port Douglas in 1886. In Port Douglas, he bought the Exchange Hotel. This was the best hotel in town, being the only two-storey one with an underground cellar.
Carstens quickly became involved in local politics. He served on the Douglas Divisional Board from 1888 to 1898. He was also on the Douglas Shire Council from 1903 to 1906. From 1893 to 1898, he was the Chairman of the Douglas Divisional Board.
He played a big part in setting up the Mossman Central Mill. He also helped create the Port Douglas and Mossman tramway. Other councillors thought he was fair and energetic. They believed he always had the community's best interests at heart.
In 1895, as Chairman, Carstens strongly pushed for the tramway. He managed to get a large loan from the government for it. The tramway connected Mossman and Port Douglas. It helped the area's farming and sugar industry grow.
Carstens was also active in other community groups. He was the Chairman of the Port Douglas Hospital Committee. He loved horse racing and became the secretary of the Jockey Club.
A Special Memorial is Built
Carstens' first wife, Catherine, passed away in 1895. In 1897, he married Pauline Pratt. They did not have any children.
Between 1899 and 1903, Carstens travelled overseas. He visited Britain, Germany, France, Italy, and Denmark. When he returned, he continued to serve on the Douglas Shire Council until he died in 1906.
After his death, his wife Pauline wanted to honour him. She asked Melrose and Fenwick to build a public monument. She spent a lot of money on it.
The memorial was made from special Italian Carrara marble. It had carved lion heads on all four sides. Two of these lion heads were originally drinking fountains. The memorial also featured a life-size statue (bust) of Carstens.
The monument was built in sections and shipped to Port Douglas. It was then put back together. Pauline Carstens gave it to the Douglas Shire Council around 1907-1908. It was placed in the middle of the main street, across from the Exchange Hotel.
Pauline also put a very fancy gravestone on her husband's grave. It is the only grave in the Port Douglas cemetery with a small marble border. The headstone is a large, detailed angel carved from Carrara marble.
The Memorial Through Time
In 1911, a big cyclone hit Port Douglas. It caused a lot of damage to buildings, including the Exchange Hotel. But the Carstens memorial stood strong and was not harmed.
By the late 1960s, the marble bowls under the fountains were gone. The fountain no longer worked. However, in the late 20th century, tourism in North Queensland grew. This led to new interest in taking care of the memorial.
In 1999, the Douglas Shire Council worked with a local society to save the monument. They hired an expert to clean the marble. They decided not to fix the water feature. This was because it would be too hard to clean the pipes without damaging the stone.
What Does the Memorial Look Like?
The FDA Carstens Memorial is located on a traffic island. This island is in the middle of Macrossan Street in Port Douglas. This street is the main business area.
The memorial is about 5 metres tall, reaching to the top of the bust. It stands on a concrete base called a plinth.
Up Close: Details of the Memorial
The memorial has a square base with cut-off corners. On top of that is a square pedestal. Above the pedestal is a tall, round part called a column. At the very top is a statue, or bust, of FDA Carstens.
The pedestal has lion heads and words carved into each of its four sides. On the north side, it says:
- "A vigorous advocate of the construction of the Mossman Tramway."
- "Chairman of the Port Douglas Hospital Committee. 1892-1893."
Above the lion head on this side, it says "Carstens Memorial."
On the south side, the words read:
- "FDA Carstens. Arrived in Port Douglas 1886."
- "Visited his native land 1899-1903."
The east side has "IN MEMORIAM" above the lion head. Below it, it says:
- "FDA Carstens. Born 9 August 1838."
- "Died 20 September 1906."
The west side has "FDA Carstens" above the lion head. Below it, it reads:
- "Elected to the Douglas Divisional board 1888, 1891-1893, Chairman 1893-1898, member of the Douglas Shire Council 1903-1906."
The monument used to be a fountain. Water flowed from the mouths of the lion heads on the east and west sides. There were small marble bowls below them, but these are now gone.
On the east side of the base, it says:
- "Erected and presented to the Douglas Shire Council by his loving wife, Pauline Carstens."
In small letters on two sides of the base, it says "Melrose and Fenwick." On another corner, it says "Townsville."
The column above the pedestal has a small base, a main shaft, and a top part called a capital. The base has carved leaves and flowers, like hibiscus and daisies. The column itself has grooves and crossed bands. The top part (capital) is in a fancy Greek style.
Why is This Memorial Important?
The FDA Carstens Memorial was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on September 9, 2003. This means it is recognized as a place of historical importance.
A Glimpse into History
This memorial shows us how people in Queensland used to honour important local citizens. It was common to build public memorials like this in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This was especially true in North Queensland, where local communities were very close.
The memorial also helps us understand what public memorials and drinking fountains looked like back then. It shows us the styles and values people had during that time.
A Unique Design
The FDA Carstens Memorial is a great example of its type. It's a beautiful marble drinking fountain with a pedestal, column, and a bust. It has traditional lion head fountains and detailed carvings. These carvings include classic designs like laurel leaves and oak leaves. But it also has unusual tropical flowers, like the hibiscus.
A Beautiful Landmark
This memorial is important because of its beauty. When it was first put up, it was a very noticeable landmark in Port Douglas. Its location in the main street, its height, and its bright white marble made it stand out.
In 1999, work was done to clean the marble and improve the area around it. This shows that people in the community still value how beautiful it is. The memorial also shows the high quality of work by Melrose and Fenwick, the company that built it.
Remembering a Key Figure
The memorial is dedicated to Friederich Detleip Andreas Carstens. It has a special connection to his life and work. He greatly helped the Port Douglas and Mossman area between 1886 and 1906. He helped the district grow and become successful. He did this through his work with the Douglas Divisional Board and by promoting the Mossman Central Mill and the Port Douglas and Mossman tramway.
