Federal Hotel, Childers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Federal Hotel, Childers |
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Federal Hotel, 2006
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| Location | 71 Churchill Street, Childers, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | c. 1907 |
| Built for | William Ashby |
| Official name: Federal Hotel | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600622 |
| Significant period | 1900s (fabric) c. 1907-ongoing (historical use, social) |
| Significant components | kitchen/kitchen house |
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The Federal Hotel is a historic hotel located at 71 Churchill Street in Childers, Australia. It's a two-story building made of timber. The hotel was built around 1907 and is an important part of Childers' history. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, which means it's protected for its special historical and architectural value.
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History of the Federal Hotel
The Federal Hotel was built around 1907 for a hotel owner named William Ashby. It was constructed after a big fire in 1902 destroyed many buildings in the center of Childers. The town was rebuilt with new, stronger buildings.
Childers Town Grows
In the 1870s, the dense forests around Childers, known as the Isis Scrub, were cleared for farming. By the 1880s, Childers was promoted as a great place for agriculture. In 1887, a railway line was built to Childers. This helped transport timber and led to the town growing quickly.
William Ashby's First Hotel
William Ashby, who arrived in the area in 1868, owned the very first hotel in Childers. He moved his original hotel building to Childers in 1886 and made it bigger, calling it the "Childers Hotel." Ashby also bought nearby land and was involved in local government.
The railway helped the sugar industry grow in the area. By the 1890s, several sugar mills were built. Childers became a busy center for sugar farming. Its population grew from 91 people in 1891 to 4,000 by 1900!
Hotels and the Big Fire
As Childers grew, many hotels were built for travelers, business people, and the many seasonal workers in the sugar industry. These included the Isis, Belle Vue, Royal, Queen's, and Palace hotels.
Ashby later sold his "Childers Hotel." The new owner replaced it with a two-story brick building called the Grand Hotel in 1899. This Grand Hotel was the only building to survive a huge fire in 1902. The fire destroyed most of the timber buildings on the main street. After the fire, the town center was rebuilt with new brick buildings.
Building the Federal Hotel
Around the early 1900s, William Ashby decided to build a new hotel. He bought land on the corner of Churchill and North Streets in 1905. The Federal Hotel was built there around 1907. It looked very similar to another hotel designed by a famous architect named F. H. Faircloth, who also designed many buildings in Childers after the fire.
The Federal Hotel was often leased out to different people, but it stayed in the Ashby family for many years. It was a popular spot for canecutters (people who harvested sugar cane by hand) and later for small crop pickers. The hotel has been updated over the years but still keeps its historic charm.
What the Federal Hotel Looks Like
The Federal Hotel is a two-story timber building. It sits on a corner where Churchill Street (the main street) meets North Street.
Outside the Hotel
The hotel is shaped a bit like the letter "L." It has a roof covered in corrugated iron, which is a common roofing material. The most noticeable part of the hotel is its two-story verandah. This verandah runs along both streets and is supported by strong posts with pretty cast iron decorations. The top level of the verandah has decorative iron railings.
Inside the Hotel
The hotel has several entrances on the ground floor. The main entrance is at the street corner and leads into a large public bar. There's also another bar and a dining area. On the Churchill Street side, a second entrance leads into a wide hall. This hall has a billiard room (a room for playing pool) and a staircase leading upstairs.
The hotel has sash windows, which are windows that slide up and down. The ceilings are made of timber. While some parts of the bar and dining areas have been updated, the hotel still looks much like it did originally. There's also a single-story kitchen section behind the dining area.
Upstairs, you'll find a guest lounge at the corner. There's also a kitchen and bedrooms. French doors open from these rooms onto the verandah. Toilets have been added to the back of the upper level. Behind the hotel, there's a beer garden, which is an outdoor area for guests.
Why the Federal Hotel is Important
The Federal Hotel was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's recognized as a special place for several reasons:
Part of Queensland's History
The Federal Hotel is important because it shows how much Childers grew in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was one of many hotels built during this time when Childers became a busy center for sugar farming. The hotel also shows how the town was rebuilt with new, stronger buildings after the big fire in 1902.
A Great Example of a Historic Hotel
The Federal Hotel is a good example of a hotel from its time. Its location on the corner, its shape, and its details are typical of hotels built back then. The hotel hasn't changed much, so its outside looks almost the same, and the inside layout is still very similar.
Beautiful and Important to the Town
The Federal Hotel is a well-designed timber building on a very noticeable corner. It's a landmark in Childers' main street and helps make the town look attractive and historic.
Important to the Community
The hotel has been a public building and a part of the social life in Childers for most of the 20th century. It has a strong connection with the people of Childers.
Images for kids
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Scottish pipers passing the Federal Hotel in November 1908.
