Jack and Newell Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jack and Newell Building |
|
|---|---|
Jack and Newell Building, 2015
|
|
| Location | 29 Wharf Street, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1900 - 1914 (early 20th century) |
| Built | 1911 |
| Official name: Jack and Newell Building (former), Bartlam's Ltd, Fearnley & Co. Ltd, Nosworthy's Stores | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 22 November 1996 |
| Reference no. | 601610 |
| Significant period | 1900s (fabric) 1911-1980s (historical commercial use) |
| Significant components | showroom, office/s, strong room, warehouse |
| Builders | Hanson & Sons |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Jack and Newell Building is a special old office building located at 29 Wharf Street in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1911 by Hanson & Sons. Over the years, it was also known as Bartlam's Ltd, Fearnley & Co. Ltd, and Nosworthy's Stores. This building is important because it shows how Cairns grew as a port city. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 22 November 1996, which means it's protected for its historical value.
Building History
This building was likely built in 1911 for a company called Fearnley & Co. Ltd. They were shipping and commission agents. This means they helped move goods and acted as representatives for other businesses. The land belonged to Dr. John Hastings Reed, who was the company's managing director.
Fearnley & Co. Ltd's Beginnings
John Gillett Fearnley first came to Cairns around 1888. He managed a shipping company. Later, in 1889, he started his own business, Smith & Fearnley. They were storekeepers and shipping agents. In 1893, Fearnley started his own company, JG Fearnley. He became very successful. He even owned one of the main wharves in Cairns by 1905. A street in Cairns is named after him!
Changes and New Offices
In 1905, Fearnley sold his wharf but kept his shipping business. He moved his family away, and Lionel Draper managed the company. In 1906, his business became a larger company called Fearnley & Co. Ltd. Dr. John Hastings Reed became the managing director.
Around this time, the Cairns Harbour Board was created in 1906. This new board took over and developed the wharves. This might have caused Fearnley & Co. Ltd to move to new offices in Wharf Street in December 1907. This is where the current building stands.
Building Construction
The land for the building was bought by John Hastings Reed in September 1907. He took out a loan, which might have helped build the current structure. However, in 1911, Cairns builders Hanson and Sons won a contract. They were to build new brick offices for Fearnley & Co. Ltd. This is most likely when the Jack and Newell Building was constructed.
New Owners: Bartlams and Nosworthy's Stores
From late 1922 to early 1923, Bartlams Ltd took over Fearnley & Co. Ltd. Bartlams was a large company from Townsville. They owned the building until 1931. Then, Ralph Collins Nosworthy leased part of the building. His business, Nosworthy's Stores, operated there in 1934.
Jack & Newell & Co. Takes Over
In 1939, John Newell bought the property. He was part of the well-known North Queensland company, Jack & Newell. This company had been general storekeepers since 1880. They also had stores and shipping agencies in many towns, including Cairns.
When Jack & Newell bought the building, it continued to be used for shipping. The building's outside walls were covered with a new finish. The old names like Fearnley & Co. Ltd were removed. The new name, Jack & Newell & Co., was put on the front. The building stayed with Jack & Newell Pty Ltd until the mid-1970s. Later, it was used as a wine and spirits storage area.
In 2004, most of the building was taken down. Only the front part and facade (the main front wall) remain. These parts are now part of a tall holiday apartment complex called Jack & Newell Holiday Apartments.
Building Design
The former Jack and Newell Building is on Wharf Street. It sits across from the main wharves in Cairns.
Outside Appearance
The building is shaped like a rectangle. It is made of brick. The front part facing Wharf Street has two floors. The back part has only one floor.
The front of the building looks balanced. It has a main entrance door on the ground floor. On the first floor, there are French doors that open onto a curved balcony. This balcony has a simple railing. On each side of these doors, there are pairs of timber windows. These windows are between tall, flat columns called pilasters. The entire front wall has been covered. This hides the original brickwork. The top of the building has a stepped parapet (a low wall at the edge of the roof). It also has a decorative brick element in the middle. Below this, you can see the name JACK & NEWELL & Co. and the date 1893.
The side walls step down from the front. The roof over the top floor is slanted. The back wall of the upper floor has three windows. The side wall on the east has two rectangular windows. The single-storey back section has a corrugated iron roof. This roof goes back to a stepped gable (a triangular part of a wall). This back wall has a large entrance for loading goods.
Inside the Building
The walls inside the ground floor are smooth. The side walls have a design that looks like blind arches. The ceiling is made of narrow wooden boards. Parts of an old wooden staircase are still there in the front section. The original wooden floors on the ground floor have been replaced with concrete. There is a wide opening between the front and back sections. There is also a strong room, which is a very secure room, in the back section.
The upper floor is divided into rooms. These rooms are separated by wooden panels that are three-quarters height. They have glass above them. The ceiling is also made of wooden boards, like the ground floor. There is a trap door in the middle of the floor at the top of the stairs.
Why It's Heritage Listed
The former Jack and Newell Building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1996. This means it's recognized as an important part of Queensland's history and culture.
Showing History
This building helps us understand how Cairns grew in the early 1900s. It shows how the port facilities and warehouses improved after the Cairns Harbour Board started in 1906. For over 60 years, the building was used by important shipping companies. It's one of the few remaining examples of how these companies helped Cairns become a major port.
Rare and Special
This building is the last old warehouse from the early 1900s in what used to be a busy port area. It's one of only two buildings that show the important link between businesses in Wharf Street and the wharves.
Typical Design
The Jack and Newell Building shows what a masonry (brick or stone) warehouse for shipping companies looked like. You can still see the office areas upstairs. The ground floor had space for showing goods. The back section was used for storage. The way the two-storey and single-storey parts connect helps us understand how a shipping business worked back then. The small balcony upstairs also shows how connected the building was to the wharves across the street.
Looking Good
The building has a unique look that fits the street. It helps us remember what the street used to look like. Its design is a local example of classic building styles.
Community Connection
The building has a strong connection to the Cairns community. It reminds people of the growth of the business area around the wharves. It's a symbol of Cairns' shipping activity in the early 1900s, when the town became a main port.
Important People and Groups
It has a strong link to three important shipping companies in North Queensland: Fearnley & Co. Ltd, Bartlams Ltd, and Jack & Newell & Co. Even though Fearnley & Co. built it, Jack & Newell & Co. used it for the longest time, from 1939 to 1976. They had been doing business on Wharf Street since the late 1890s.
