Fortitude Valley Police Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fortitude Valley Police Station |
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Fortitude Valley Police Station, 2017
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| Location | 119 Brookes Street, Fortitude Valley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919 - 1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1935 - 1936 |
| Architect | Raymond Clare Nowland |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Fortitude Valley Police Station | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 24 June 1999 |
| Reference no. | 601168 |
| Significant period | 1930s (historical) 1930s (fabric) |
| Significant components | police station, barracks - police |
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The Fortitude Valley Police Station is a historic building in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's a special police station that has been serving the community for many years. Designed by architect Raymond Clare Nowland, it was built between 1935 and 1936. This important building is officially recognized on the Queensland Heritage Register.
A Look Back: History of the Station
The Fortitude Valley Police Station opened its doors on 6 July 1936. It's a striking, two-storey building made of red bricks. It has cool-looking stone-like decorations around its arched entrances and windows. You can find it on the corner of Brookes and Wickham Streets in Fortitude Valley.
Why a New Police Station?
In the 1850s, Fortitude Valley started to grow into a busy town. By the late 1800s, it was an important area for shops and businesses. Many people also lived there. As the area got bigger in the early 1900s, the old police station on Church Street became too small. In 1934, Fortitude Valley became its own police district. The old station was called "quite inadequate" for such an important part of the city.
When the new station opened, people said it was the "finest, most up-to-date, and most comfortable police station in Queensland."
What Was Inside the New Station?
The new station had many important rooms:
- On the ground floor, there was a main entrance and offices for police leaders and clerks.
- There were also rooms for records, and for officers to relax or interview people.
- Upstairs, the first floor had dorms for single police officers to live.
- It also had recreation rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms.
- Behind the main building, there was a separate bathroom block and a garage for police cars.
The dorms were designed to be comfy and had good airflow. This building has been used as a police station ever since it was built!
Changes Over Time
Over the years, the building has been updated to fit modern police work. Since 1962, some changes have been made. For example, the dorms upstairs are now used as offices for different police units. Some areas have new ceilings, and modern equipment like air conditioning has been added. Even with these changes, the outside of the building still looks mostly the same. Many original features inside are also still there. These include the windows, doors, decorative ceilings, and beautiful floors. The main staircase is also original, with its special wood handrails and metal railings.
A Special Building in the Community
The Fortitude Valley Police Station is a landmark building in its area. It's part of a group of important community buildings. These include the Fortitude Valley Swimming Baths, the old and new Fortitude Valley State Schools, and the Holy Trinity Church.
Designed by a Talented Architect
The station was designed by Raymond Clare Nowland. He was an architect who worked for the Queensland Government's Department of Public Works. This station was built during a time in the 1930s when the government was building many new public buildings. This was done to help people find jobs during the Great Depression, a time when many people were out of work.
Raymond Clare Nowland designed many important buildings in Queensland. He joined the government's architectural office in 1932. Some of his other famous works include the University of Queensland Mayne Medical School and the Brisbane Dental Hospital. He was known for his simple, classic architectural style. His work helped shape the look of many Queensland towns and cities.
What the Station Looks Like
The Fortitude Valley Police Station is a two-storey building shaped like an "L." It's made of red bricks with cream-colored stone-like decorations. This makes it stand out on the corner of Brookes and Wickham Streets. It has a prominent tiled roof.
Outside Features
- At the street corner, there's a special entrance called a portico. It has an electric clock above it.
- The ground floor windows have striking arched shapes with decorative "keystones" at the top.
- The main corner entrance has columns and pillars that look like the ancient Greek Doric style.
- The side entrance on Wickham Street also has a decorative arch.
- You can see ornamental metal grilles on the ground floor windows facing the street.
- There are also decorative metal gates at the arched vehicle entrance on Brookes Street.
- On the first floor overlooking Wickham Street, there's an open porch with smaller Doric columns. It has a beautiful oval balcony with decorative metal railings.
- The roof has bold decorative supports called "brackets" under the eaves.
Inside the Station
The main entrance opens into a large lobby and hall. From here, corridors lead to different parts of the building. A wooden staircase connects to the first floor. The floors in the main lobby and hall are made of pale gold and white terrazzo, a type of mosaic flooring. The main staircase has a beautiful silky oak handrail and newel posts. The ceilings in the lobby and hall have decorative plaster designs.
Many of the offices on the ground floor still have their original layout. The Constables' Day Room is still used for its original purpose. The dorms on the first floor are now offices and interview rooms, but they still keep their original shape. Many original features like windows, doors, and decorative trim are still there. The recreation room is now a locker room and opens onto the balcony overlooking Wickham Street. From this balcony, you can see the Holy Trinity Church.
The Courtyard
Behind the station, there's a courtyard. It has the separate bathroom block and a garage for two vehicles. Next to the courtyard is a car parking area for police cars. This area used to be a playground for students at the old Fortitude Valley State School until the 1940s.
Why This Place is Special
The Fortitude Valley Police Station was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 June 1999. This means it's recognized as an important part of Queensland's history and culture.
Showing Queensland's History
This police station was built in 1936. It shows how Fortitude Valley grew into an important city area. It also shows how law and order services developed in the district. The station's design and size show that it was built as a main base for police operations, not just a place for officers to live.
A Great Example of a Police Station
This site has been used for law enforcement since 1889. The current Fortitude Valley Police Station has been operating since 1936. It's a great example of how police stations were planned in the 1930s, even though the living quarters are now used as offices.
Beautiful and Important Design
The Fortitude Valley Police Station is a striking building. Its red bricks and cream decorations make it a landmark on a busy road. It's an important part of a group of community buildings in the area. This public building has a strong civic presence and adds to the beauty of the street. Its careful design and use of materials show great skill in architecture and construction. The station's outside is still very much intact, and many original parts of the inside are still there.
Connected to Important People and Groups
The Fortitude Valley Police Station has a special connection to the Queensland Police. It shows how police work and the lives of officers have changed in a major city area. It's also important because it was part of a big building program by the government in the 1930s. This program helped create jobs during the Great Depression. The station is a notable building designed by Raymond Clare Nowland, a very talented architect.
