Ferrari Estates Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ferrari Estates Building |
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Ferrari Estates Building, 2010
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| Location | 126 Charlotte Street, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1890 - 1891 |
| Architect | Eyre & Munro |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Ferrari Estates Building, Bank of North Queensland | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600422 |
| Significant period | 1890s (fabric) 1891-1908 (historical use) |
| Significant components | strong room, carriage/wagon/dray entrance, residential accommodation - manager's house/quarters, gate - entrance |
| Builders | John Armstrong |
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The Ferrari Estates Building is a historic building in Cooktown, Australia. It used to be a bank and a home for the bank manager. This two-storey brick building was designed by Eyre & Munro and built between 1890 and 1891 by John Armstrong. It was originally known as the Bank of North Queensland. Today, it is recognized for its historical importance and is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.
Contents
A Look Back: The Bank's Story
This large brick building was built in 1890-1891. It served as the Cooktown branch of the Bank of North Queensland. It also included a home for the bank's manager.
The Bank of North Queensland
The Bank of North Queensland started in Townsville in July 1888. It was one of only three banks created in Queensland during the 1800s. A politician and businessman named Robert Philp strongly supported this bank. He wanted it to help North Queensland grow. He hoped it would provide money for development. This money would be free from influence from banks in southern Queensland.
Within six months, the new bank opened seven branches. One of these was in Cooktown, which opened on September 1, 1888. The bank's main office moved to Brisbane in 1894. Some smaller branches closed in the 1890s. But by 1900, new branches opened in places like Childers and Thursday Island. This showed how different industries in North Queensland, like mining and fishing, were changing.
Cooktown's Busy Days
When the Cooktown branch opened in 1888, the town was booming. People were finding lots of gold in the Palmer River. Tin mining had also just started nearby. The local beche-de-mer (sea cucumber) fishing business was also doing very well. Cooktown was a busy port. It served about 30,000 people in the area. Other banks, like the Bank of New South Wales, were already there.
Because business was so good, the Bank of North Queensland decided to build a big new office. They hired architects Eyre & Munro from Townsville. The bank bought the land on Charlotte Street in June 1890. Building started in September, and the foundation was laid on October 13, 1890. John Armstrong from Cooktown won the building contract. The cost was £2,188.
Building the Bank
The new two-storey brick building was one of Cooktown's biggest. The ground floor had the main banking area. It also had the manager's office and a strong room for money. A separate entrance led to the manager's home. On the ground floor of the home were an entrance hall and dining room. Upstairs, there was a living room, three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a linen closet. The bedrooms had access to a side balcony.
Behind the dining room was a single-storey kitchen area. This part had a kitchen, a servant's room, and a storage room. The building had high ceilings and many windows. This helped keep it cool in the tropical climate. Bricks for the building came from a local brickyard. Heavy rain and problems with the bricks caused delays. The building was finally finished in mid-1891.
Cooktown's Changing Times
Even as the new bank opened, Cooktown's good fortune was fading. Less gold was found in the Palmer River. This meant Cooktown became less important as a supply port. After 1900, there was some new mining activity. But it wasn't enough to bring back the boom. A Cyclone in 1907 destroyed many buildings in Cooktown. Many were never rebuilt. The Bank of North Queensland branch in Cooktown closed in January 1908.
The building remained bank property for some years. It was rented out as a home. For example, the Police Magistrate lived there in 1917. In 1917, the Bank of North Queensland joined with another bank. Later, in 1922, the National Bank of Australasia Ltd took over. They sold the Cooktown property in 1924. The Ferrari family has owned the building since 1963. It was mostly used as a home until the 1970s. It then became a grocery store for some years, closing in December 1992.
What the Building Looks Like
The Ferrari Estates Building faces west towards Charlotte Street. It is a two-storey building made of brick, covered in a smooth finish. A smaller, single-storey section extends from the back. The roof over the main part of the building has an uneven hip shape.
Outside the Building
On the ground floor, the front of the building has three arched openings. These arches have decorative hood moulds and a special stone called a keystone at the top. These openings are supported by piers, which are like strong columns. One of the openings was for carriages to enter. It still has its original wrought iron gates. A decorative band, called a cornice, separates the ground floor from the first floor.
The upper level also has three arched openings. They are similar to the ones below but are shorter. These openings are now filled with glass. Thin, flat columns called pilasters separate them. Above these windows is another cornice with a triangular shape in the middle, called a pediment. A low wall, or balustrade, rises above this.
Inside the Building
Much of the inside of the building has been changed over time. So, it's hard to see exactly how it looked when it was a bank. However, you can still see where the strongroom was. You can also see the location of the manager's office on the ground floor. The original wooden staircase between the floors is still there. It is located against the east wall. The wooden balcony along the south wall has been covered with a fibrous cement material.
Why It's Important: Heritage Listing
The Ferrari Estates Building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's a very important historical place.
Showing Queensland's History
This building helps us understand how Queensland's history unfolded. It shows how important Cooktown was as a major town and port in North Queensland in the late 1800s. It also represents the confidence people had in Cooktown's future during that time.
Rare and Special Features
The building has some rare features. It is one of the few old buildings left on Charlotte Street that shows how busy Cooktown was from the 1870s to the 1890s. It is also one of Cooktown's oldest buildings. Building with brick was uncommon in Cooktown, making this building special. Even with changes, it still shows how European designs were changed to suit a tropical climate.
A Great Example of Its Kind
Even though some inside walls have been removed, the building's shape and how it looks from the street are still clear. It is a rare example of a large, two-storey bank building from the late 1800s in North Queensland. It had both a banking area and a manager's home. It was built of brick and had balconies on the front and side of the upper level. This shows how buildings were designed to fit a hot, distant location.
Beautiful and Historic
The building is on the main street of Cooktown. It adds to the historic look of the street. It stands near other important buildings like the Seagren's Building and the Westpac Bank. Across the street are the Cook Shire Council Chambers, Mary Watson's Monument, and the old Cooktown Post Office. The old stone kerbs and channels in Charlotte Street also add to the historical feel.
